Grid penalty for Giovinazzi after gearbox change

Antonio Giovinazzi will start at the back of the grid for the Styrian Grand Prix, the Italian slapped with a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change.

Italian Giovinazzi made light contact with the turn-nine barriers during the first qualifying session on Saturday, a session he failed to escape from, and the Alfa Romeo team has elected to take a grid penalty for replacing the potentially damaged gearbox.

With Giovinzzai having qualified 19th of the 20 runners, the penalty will have a minimal effect on his race.

Speaking after qualifying, Giovinazzi said, “It’s been a difficult session, even though at the beginning of the session we were really strong.

"We needed something special on the final lap, I tried to push as much as I could to get the position but unfortunately I went onto the kerb at the second last corner, lost the rear a little bit and that was it.

"It’s a shame as I was improving my time by nearly a second and I think I would have made it to Q2."

Before you go...

Haas willing to offer Vettel 2021 drive

Russell targeting points after stunning qualifying performance

Related

F1 News & Gossip

F1 team to change names between races in 2024

• February 11, 2024 16:57

Breaking F1 News

‘If Shrek was in F1’ - Fans BLAST team’s new 2024 car

• February 5, 2024 21:11