Fernando Alonso receives 30-place grid penalty at British GP


McLaren's Fernando Alonso is set to start the British GP on the back row after receiving a 30-place grid penalty for engine component changes.
A new Honda 'Spec Three' power unit has been installed in the Spaniard's MCL32 following Friday practice at Silverstone, taking him further over the limit for engine parts used this season.
Alonso was already facing a five-place grid penalty after having a fifth energy store installed ahead of Friday's running.
But the further changes mean he is now onto his eighth MGU-H and turbocharger and sixth internal combustion engine and MGU-K - adding a further 25 places to his demotion
Each car is only allowed four of each component through the season before facing a penalty.
Two-time world champion Alonso had showed encouraging pace on Friday, finishing in the top 10 in both practice sessions.
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ on Wednesday, Alonso said he was still hoping for a points finish despite the impending penalty.
"It's a home grand prix for the team. It's a place where we want to put a good result on Sunday," he said.
"We will try to push hard, be in the points and put on a good show. Whatever the result at the end, it is a race where we enjoy attacking and racing so Silverstone is a perfect place."

McLaren drivers' engine usage

Engine elementFernando AlonsoStoffel Vandoorne
Internal Combustion Engine64
Turbocharger87
MGU-H87
MGU-K64
Energy Store55
Control Electronics45
McLaren had been expected to struggle this weekend due to the high-speed, power-hungry nature of the Silverstone track, but both cars were in the top 10 in Practice One before Alonso was ninth in Practice Two.
The MCL32 should be better suited for the Hungaroring and therefore the team wanted to avoid penalties in order to be more competitive at the Hungarian GP, which runs from July 28-30.
It is the second time this season that Alonso has received a grid penalty for exceeding engine limits, while Jenson Button was on the receiving end of a penalty when filling in for the Spaniard at the Monaco GP in May.

At last month's Azerbaijan GP, Alonso received a 40-place grid penalty after a raft of engine component changes, although he finished ninth in the chaotic race to secure McLaren-Honda their only points of the season so far.



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