Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable triumph at last weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix came despite two penalties.
The first was given to the Briton because his Mercedes did not meet the DRS regulations and forced the defending champion to start the sprint race on Saturday from the end of the grid.
Hamilton fought an impressive fifth place in the sprint, but had to line up in 10th place because of his second penalty of the weekend for the Grand Prix on Sunday.
This was a penalty for using a fifth engine – or “powerplant” – item of the season in his vehicle, more than the number allowed.
Modern hybrid drives in Formula 1 cars consist of six main elements: the internal combustion engine (ICE); Turbocharger; Energy storage; Control electronics; and two motor-generator units – the heat-related MGU-H and the kinetics-related MGU-K.
In an F1 season, each vehicle can use three ICEs, three MGU-Hs and MGU-Ks, and three turbochargers. Two energy stores and two control electronics are also permitted all year round.
According to the rules of sport, the first time an additional engine element is used, the driver receives a 10-place penalty. The next time an additional element of the same type is used, the driver loses five starting positions.
This explains why Hamilton received a 10-place penalty at the Turkish GP when he fielded a fourth ICE this season, and only a 5-place penalty at the Brazilian GP last weekend when he did a fifth this year ICE started.
Despite Hamilton’s most recent penalty and the DRS-related penalty that affected him before the sprint race on Saturday, the seven-time champion won the Brazilian GP and reduced the gap to title rival Max Verstappen to 14 points.
There are three races to go this season, with the Qatar GP on Sunday giving way to events in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, and Hamilton has been tipped off to receive another engine penalty in this weekend’s race.
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