F1 driver slapped with 40-place grid penalty for Spanish Grand Prix

12:27, Sun, Sep 13, 2026 Updated: 12:28, Sun, Sep 13, 2026

A huge penalty has been dished out. (Image: Getty Images)

Lance Stroll is likely to have one to forget at the inaugural race at the Spanish Grand Prix, with the Aston Martin driver hit with a massive 40-point grid penalty. The Canadian has accumulated a hefty punishment after taking on new power unit components ahead of qualifying, exceeding his permitted annual allowance.

The FIA technical delegate has confirmed that Stroll has fitted a fifth internal combustion engine this season, with just four permitted per car. He has also taken on a fifth turbocharger, again breaching the maximum allowance of four. As these represent the first infractions of the campaign for those particular components, each carries an automatic 10-place grid penalty.

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Stroll is additionally running a seventh power unit ancillary component, which triggers a 10-place penalty, as only six are permitted per season. On the electrical side, a new energy store and a new MGU-K — which generates kinetic energy — have both been installed.

Having already exhausted his allocation for both parts this year, he incurs a five-place drop for each violation.

The combined penalties amount to a staggering 40-place grid drop as a consequence of Stroll's engine component changes. Under F1 regulations, any penalty of 15 places or more automatically converts to a back-of-grid start, meaning the Canadian will line up at the rear of the field for Sunday's race in the Spanish capital.

The modifications follow Stroll's encounter with a battery-related engine issue during the closing stages of Friday's second free practice session.

Lance Stroll has triggered grid penalties in Madrid (Image: Getty)

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Stroll participated in FP3 on Saturday with no apparent issues affecting his car but did not set a time in qualifying.

Friday proved challenging for Aston Martin overall, with Fernando Alonso's track time curtailed by a clutch problem. That emerged during the opening practice hour, and the necessary repairs meant he missed the beginning of FP2 and then qualified in 18th.

Meanwhile, Haas star Oliver Bearman will also start from the pit lane, following a heavy crash in Saturday's FP3 that kept him out of qualifying.

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