Button hit with 15-place grid penalty
- Published on 27 May 2017 12:07
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Jenson Button is all but certain to start tomorrow's Monaco Grand Prix from the back of the field, after picking up a 15-place grid penalty due to the team changing parts on his car.
Button returns to Monaco to race on a once off, replacing Fernando Alonso who is in Indianapolis, competing in the Indy 500. Amid Honda's poor reliability, the car has been through four MGU-H and Turbochargers already this season, the maximum that can be used before penalties start to be dished out.
However, following Thursday's practice sessions, an issue was found with Button's MGU-H, meaning it had to be replaced for today's practice and qualifying session. The team also replaced the Turbocharger.
As it is the first time any of the six power unit elements have been fitted for a fifth time, Button will receive two penalties, one 10-place and one five-place, bringing his total to 15 positions.
"It’s awful for Jenson and awful for McLaren," said racing director Eric Boullier, "and not expected at all. But it’s Monaco, so we’ll try anything we can."
Fergal Walsh
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Replies (6)
Login to replyf1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
WHAT A JOKE
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
"As it is the first time any of the six power unit elements have been fitted for a fifth time, Button will receive two penalties, one 10-place and one five-place, bringing his total to 15 positions." Why did he recieve a 10 place penalty for that? Thats just silly.
This is why the engine cap need to change. We need F1 to either allow more than 4 units, or let the teams spend points from a points system on each part. And Honda need to hurry up and upgrade their unit.
f1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
2018 regulations are that only 3 units can be used for a season, but I think teams are appealing for that to be looked at
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I hope they will, because 3 units wont hold. We want a competitive F1, yet with so few units, the teams will have to go on parts saving mode constantly. Its not conducive to the sport.
yellowfly81
Posts: 79
Poor Jenson. He had such a good quali too, and I wanted nothing more than to see him get points tomorrow. I get that these rules are designed to cut costs and that's good, but when it has been affecting the chances of teams and drivers for so long, there must surely be another solution.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I agree. On a positive note: If Vandoorne's car is repaired without penalties, they will have one car in the points, and the McLaren looks more than competitive on this track, so overtaking for Button, given the right strategy and conditions, shouldnt be a big problem.