F1 grid penalties could be a thing of the past

Formula 1 race director Charlie Whiting says that the abolition of grid penalties is a goal that the sport's hierarchy are working towards. Grid drops for engine and gearbox changes have become a scourge of F1 in recent years, with races often neutralised as the leading contenders are moved down the grid.

The hybrid era has often been characterised by farce surrounding grid penalties, as teams have struggled to find reliability in the complex and expensive power trains of modern F1 cars.

Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button were given an absurd 105 places worth of grid drops between them for the 2015 Belgian Grand Prix, while Monza was a similar scene of sham last year.

READ MORE: Engine rules and grid penalties explained

Nine drivers took penalties for various changes of machinery - Sergio Perez qualified 11th for Force India and received a five-place penalty, but still started 10th after the rest of the sanctions had been applied.

The system has been criticised by fans, pundits and the teams alike and it now appears that the 2021 regulation change could see it put to rest.

"We would like to get rid of all grid penalties, if we could," he told Autosport. "That's what we're working towards."

Current rules state that a driver must use the same gearbox for six consecutive events, otherwise they will incur a penalty. However, some changes are required due to crashes, often handing drivers a double punishment.

Although Whiting believes the system in place works fairly, he says it could also be tweaked in the future.

"There is no need [to change gearbox penalties]. It is a good system we have," Whiting added.

"If we changed to anything it would be to a pool of gearboxes, like we have a pool of engines.

"So you are only allowed three gearboxes for the year and do what you like with them, but that's all you will have.

"It is one of the things we're thinking for 2021. We are introducing a fairly comprehensive package with a number of changes."