Stroll will start the US Grand Prix from the pit lane after Aston Martin's late power unit change
Lance Stroll drops out of the Austin starting grid and will leave the pit lane after Aston Martin replaced power unit parts and changed his car's set-up without the FIA technical delegate's approval. Everyone who qualified behind him moves up one place.
A change just before the race
Lance Stroll qualified 16th at the Circuit of the Americas, but he will not line up there on Sunday. Aston Martin replaced a string of power unit elements on his car after qualifying and altered its set-up, so the United States Grand Prix starts for him from the pit lane. The change was reported by RacingNews365 and GPBlog, the latter quoting the FIA's wording.
According to both reports, Stroll received a new internal combustion engine, a turbocharger, an energy store, a control electronics unit and a power unit ancillary component. RacingNews365 describes each as far beyond the season allocation, and says the engine is his sixth in a season in which four are allowed. GPBlog adds that the team also replaced his battery.
What the FIA said
GPBlog quotes the FIA as saying the power unit elements on car 18 \"have been replaced without the approval of the FIA technical delegate\". The suspension changes were likewise made without that approval, which requires a pit lane start under Article B3.5.3 a). The FIA also noted that the car was not covered in line with Article B3.4.3 after qualifying.
Aston Martin put it more simply. \"Due to set-up changes and damage repair we've elected to start Lance from the pit lane today,\" the team said, as quoted by GPBlog.
What it does to the grid
With Stroll off the grid, the drivers who qualified behind him each gain a place. RacingNews365 lists both Williams drivers, both Cadillacs, Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto, the last two of whom were already carrying power unit penalties. His team-mate Fernando Alonso is unaffected and starts 12th.
By the numbers
Our race data shows Stroll has taken part in 17 races this season without scoring a point. He has a classified finish in five of them, with a best result of 12th. Starting from the pit lane means he begins the Austin race behind the whole grid, with the cars on the grid released ahead of him.
The race starts at 21:00 Vienna time on Sunday.
Sources
Topics: Lance Stroll, Aston Martin, Franco Colapinto, Gabriel Bortoleto
