Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, 2022

Leclerc to start at back of grid after more power unit penalties

2022 Canadian Grand Prix

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Charles Leclerc will start the Canadian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Ferrari fitted a series of additional new power unit parts to his car ahead of final practice.

The Ferrari driver was already due to take a 10-place grid penalty after exceeding his maximum allocation of control electrics yesterday. Further new parts fitted today will move him past the maximum limit of several other components.

Leclerc is running a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-H and MGU-K today. All four move him past the limits of each. He also has a new exhaust, his fifth, but remains within the limit of eight.

Yuki Tsunoda, who was already due to the start from the back of the grid, has also collected a further penalty as AlphaTauri have put a third energy store and third control electrics in his car.

Other drivers have taken new parts without incurring penalties. Carlos Sainz Jnr has moved onto his third engine – his final penalty-free change of that part – and Valtteri Bottas has taken his second and final new energy store.

Power unit parts used so far

CarEngineDriverICETCMGU-HMGU-KESCEEX
63MercedesMercedesGeorge Russell2222113
44MercedesMercedesLewis Hamilton2222113
1Red BullRed BullMax Verstappen2222113
11Red BullRed BullSergio Perez2222114
16FerrariFerrariCharles Leclerc4444125
55FerrariFerrariCarlos Sainz Jnr3222124
3McLarenMercedesDaniel Ricciardo2222112
4McLarenMercedesLando Norris2222112
14AlpineRenaultFernando Alonso4444334
31AlpineRenaultEsteban Ocon3333223
10AlphaTauriRed BullPierre Gasly3333225
22AlphaTauriRed BullYuki Tsunoda4444335
18Aston MartinMercedesLance Stroll2222222
5Aston MartinMercedesSebastian Vettel2223222
23WilliamsMercedesAlexander Albon2222222
6WilliamsMercedesNicholas Latifi2222222
77Alfa RomeoFerrariValtteri Bottas3332224
24Alfa RomeoFerrariZhou Guanyu2222113
20HaasFerrariKevin Magnussen3333224
47HaasFerrariMick Schumacher2322224

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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8 comments on “Leclerc to start at back of grid after more power unit penalties”

  1. petebaldwin (@)
    18th June 2022, 18:20

    I think that’s a smart move. I’d expect him to cut through the field pretty quickly so starting last isn’t going to make that much difference to starting 10th (presuming he’d be fast enough to get pole). It also keeps him out the middle of the pack for the start and there’s usually contact somewhere around the first few turns in Canada.

    1. Yes, in a normal race I think he’s aiming for 4th starting last.

      1. That might not be as easy to achieve as most people thought before the weekend. Vettel and Alonso put in some good long runs yesterday and Russell didn’t look too shabby either. If Charles doesn’t have a great first couple of laps or doesn’t get lucky with the SC, P7 or 8 might be a more realistic result.

  2. Unsurprising, although still in the 1st ES copy.

  3. This makes a lot of sense. Verstappen is most likely to win this race anyway, so starting from the back here is less painful as it would be at Silverstone, Paul Ricard or Hungaroring where Charles has a better chance at winning the race.
    I wonder why Ferrari also decided to change Carlos’ ICE. I hope that’s not because of some reliability concern :(
    Fingers crossed that was Charles’ last PU change before the summer break, but I’m still sceptical! In the second half of the season Ferrari might go for further PU penalties at Spa and Interlagos, given that those two circuits are likely to suit the RB more.

  4. Can Ferrari do another change of parts during Quali as he will be at the back anyway, or is there only 1 change allowed per race weekend?

    1. I believe that wouldn’t be permitted, given that Leclerc already exceeded the maximum PU allocation this weekend by one unit for every component.
      The FIA made modification to the PU regulations after McLaren and Mercedes were just loading up on new PU components in 2016 and took grid penalties worth 50+ grid positions.

  5. Where did Alonso take his 4th units? I don’t remember him starting at the back anywhere

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