Pietro Fittipaldi will make F1 debut from back of the grid after being hit with penalties

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Fittipaldi will make F1 debut from back of the grid after being hit with penalties

Brazilian has replaced Romain Grosjean this weekend

Ian Parkes

Saturday 5 December 2020 16:31

Pietro Fittipaldi will make his Formula 1 debut from the back of the grid for the Sakhir Grand Prix.

The Brazilian, standing in for the injured Romain Grosjean following the Frenchman's fiery crash in Sunday's Bahrain GP, has been hit with a power unit penalty.

Following Grosjean's accident, the VF-20 has been fitted with a new energy store and control electronics for the race around the outer track of the Bahrain International Circuit.

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The new PU elements are the third of the season when only two are allowed, which represents a breach of Article 23.3a of the sporting regulations.

The stewards have determined that as a penalty, Fittipaldi will be "required to start the race from the back of the starting grid".

Despite Fittipaldi making his bow this weekend, the rules dictate that power unit penalties always apply to a car and not the driver.

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