F1 2017: McLaren's Stoffel Vandoorne Gets 65-Place Penalty
Sameer Contractor
1 mins read
2017-08-26 22:40:53
Key Highlights
- Honda was penalised after they made another engine change overnight
- This is the second engine change the team has made for the Belgian GP
- Last time, Honda attracted a 35-place grid penalty.
To add to the woes of Formula 1 team McLaren-Honda this season, driver Stoffel Vandoorne has been awarded a 65-place grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. The decision came after Honda decided to make another engine change overnight. McLaren has been haunted by power unit troubles since the inception of the season and are currently last in the Constructors' Standings.
This is the second engine change the team has made for the Belgian GP, since the Honda already made an engine upgrade ahead of the Belgian GP, which attracted a 35-place grid penalty. The penalty was increased by an additional five places on Friday night when McLaren announced it will also be changing the transmission unit. This added a further 25-place grid penalty taking the total to 65.
Also Read: F1 2017: Ferrari Retains Kimi Raikkonen For 2018 Season
However, the team made another revelation on Saturday morning when it said it decided to replace the power unit altogether. The engine run on Friday by Vandoorne had issues, according to Honda, which prompted the manufacturer to opt for a complete replacement.
Vandoorne's McLaren now has the MGU-K power unit fitted that runs on the same specification as teammate Fernando Alonso's car. The engine is devoid of any upgrades either that McLaren had made to the previous unit in the first half of the season.
Meanwhile, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel leads the championship with Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas following close. Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo is fourth on the leaderboard while Kimi Raikkonen takes the fifth place. With the Belgian GP this weekend, it will be interesting to see if Vettel will be able to continue his dominance post the summer break.
This is the second engine change the team has made for the Belgian GP, since the Honda already made an engine upgrade ahead of the Belgian GP, which attracted a 35-place grid penalty. The penalty was increased by an additional five places on Friday night when McLaren announced it will also be changing the transmission unit. This added a further 25-place grid penalty taking the total to 65.
Also Read: F1 2017: Ferrari Retains Kimi Raikkonen For 2018 Season
However, the team made another revelation on Saturday morning when it said it decided to replace the power unit altogether. The engine run on Friday by Vandoorne had issues, according to Honda, which prompted the manufacturer to opt for a complete replacement.
Vandoorne's McLaren now has the MGU-K power unit fitted that runs on the same specification as teammate Fernando Alonso's car. The engine is devoid of any upgrades either that McLaren had made to the previous unit in the first half of the season.
Meanwhile, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel leads the championship with Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas following close. Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo is fourth on the leaderboard while Kimi Raikkonen takes the fifth place. With the Belgian GP this weekend, it will be interesting to see if Vettel will be able to continue his dominance post the summer break.
Related News
Latest Cars
Maruti Suzuki
VictorisExpected Price₹‚¹ 10.5 - 19.99 Lakh
VinFast
VF6Expected Price₹‚¹ 16.49 - 18.29 Lakh
VinFast
VF7Expected Price₹‚¹ 20.89 - 25.49 Lakh
Citroen
Basalt XExpected Price₹‚¹ 7.95 - 11.63 Lakh
Mercedes-AMG
CLE 53Expected Price₹‚¹ 1.35 Crore
Renault
TriberExpected Price₹‚¹ 6.3 - 9.4 Lakh
MG
M9 EVExpected Price₹‚¹ 69.9 Lakh
BMW
2 Series Gran CoupeExpected Price₹‚¹ 45.3 - 47.2 Lakh
Kia
Carens Clavis EVExpected Price₹‚¹ 17.99 - 24.49 Lakh
Tesla
Model YExpected Price₹‚¹ 59.89 - 67.89 Lakh
Upcoming Cars
Trending News
Latest News
car&bike Team | Sep 21, 2025Aprilia SR 175: In PicturesThe new Aprilia SR 175 replaces the SR 160, offering a larger engine, fresh features, and new colour options while retaining its familiar design and chassis.1 mins
car&bike Team | Sep 20, 2025BMW G 310 RR Limited Edition Teased Ahead Of LaunchThe upcoming special edition of the G 310 RR will be limited to just 310 units.1 mins
car&bike Team | Sep 20, 2025GST 2.0: Keeway, Zontes And QJ Motor Two-Wheelers Prices RevisedThe GST 2.0 price reshuffle continues with Keeway, Zontes and QJ Motor bikes getting more affordable, while Benelli models will cost more.2 mins
car&bike Team | Sep 20, 2025New Hyundai Venue N-Line Spotted Testing In India Ahead Of October DebutHyundai has been extensively testing the new Venue in India over the past year, with the model to debut in October.2 mins
car&bike Team | Sep 20, 2025Royal Enfield 350 Motorcycle Range To Be Available On Flipkart From Sept 22Under the partnership, buyers in five cities will be able to purchase their preferred 350 cc Royal Enfield motorcycle via the e-commerce platform.2 mins
car&bike Team | Sep 20, 2025GST 2.0 Effect: Jeep India Announces Revised Prices For SUV Range; Prices Cut By Up To Rs 4.84 LakhThe Jeep India range is priced from Rs 17.73 lakh (ex-showroom) for the entry Compass, down from Rs 18.99 lakh (ex-showroom) pre-GST 2.0.1 mins
