Lindblad, Colapinto, and Bortoleto Face Grid Penalties at US Grand Prix

Arvid Lindblad, Franco Colapinto, and Gabriel Bortoleto have all been handed grid penalties for the upcoming United States Grand Prix, thanks to exceeding the permissible number of power unit components.

Lindblad, representing Racing Bulls, finds himself in a familiar situation. After starting from the back in Malaysia due to an engine swap, he's now facing a five-place grid drop at the Circuit of The Americas. This comes after opting for a sixth internal combustion engine, beyond the four allowed.

Franco Colapinto, driving for Alpine, is also penalized with a 10-place grid drop. He received a new control electronics unit, marking his fourth of the season, as Alpine pushes to close the gap with midfield rivals Racing Bulls.

Meanwhile, Audi has been busy with Gabriel Bortoleto's car, leading to a significant 20-place grid penalty for the Brazilian. His car's overhaul includes a fourth energy store and control electronics, along with a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger, exhaust set, and other components. Fortunately for Bortoleto, these additional components stay within the limit, sparing him further penalties.

Under F1 regulations, the first breach of power unit component limits incurs a 10-place grid penalty, with subsequent breaches resulting in five-place penalties. If a driver accumulates more than 15 grid places in penalties, they must start from the back. For Bortoleto, this means a start at the rear of the grid.

Qualifying for the Grand Prix kicks off at 4 PM local time on Saturday, with the race commencing at 3 PM on Sunday.