On race day at Circuit of The Americas, the starting grid previously marked by penalties for substitution of components for four drivers sees a further change in its layout. According to what was reported by the technical delegate FIA, Jo Bauer further substitutions of components took place between Saturday and Sunday, such as to lead to penalties.
Two other drivers will be penalized
The main news is about Stephen Ocon, who qualified in eighteenth position and who should have started from the seventeenth box after the penalty inflicted on Zhou Guanyu. Alpine, given its position in the rear, has decided to replace the internal combustion engine (ICE), the battery pack, the control unit and the exhaust on car number 31. The problem is that authorization was not requested from the FIA delegate, therefore French will start from pit laneinstead of from the grid. This may favor Ocon as far as the set-up of the car is concerned, because parc fermé has already been violated.
For Tsunoda 5 positions
The other driver with components replaced after the qualification it's Yuki Tsunoda, for whom AlphaTauri replaced the entire gearbox assembly. Since the blocking of components is the fifth of the season, out of four authorized by the regulation, the Japanese will be penalized on the grid. Tsunoda dropped back five positions, starting the race from the nineteenth box, alongside Zhou. The last since Ocon will start from the pit lane.
Here is the official starting grid
Everything is ready for the United States Grand Prix which will start at 21:00 (Italian time).
ARTICLE BY FABIO SEGETTA
