Alonso and Vandoorne receive grid penalties for Mexican GP

Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne will start this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix from the back of the grid. The pair have once again been handed a fistful of grid penalties that will see them commence Sunday's race from the rear of the field.

Both men spoke on Thursday about the impending penalties, as they were aware that the team would be replacing engine component parts. On Friday, the FIA confirmed that the parts had been changed and used which resulted in the official announcement of the penalties.

Alonso is set to drop 20 places on the grid after taking on a new internal combustion engine, turbo and MGU-H. His teammate Vandoorne has been fitted with a completely new power unit, which amounts to a 35 place grid demotion.

Speaking about the penalty, Spaniard Alonso said: "The circuit is not the perfect for our package anyway, so we don’t expect to be super-competitive here. Maybe it is the best place for the penalty and hopefully we can be better in Brazil and Abu Dhabi with the new engine."

Fergal Walsh