FIA confirm 70-PLACE grid penalty ruling at Canadian Gp

FIA confirm 70-PLACE grid penalty ruling at Canadian Gp after Russell p…read more

The FIA has confirmed that Formula 1 drivers Pierre Gasly and Liam Lawson were handed massive grid penalties at the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, resulting in both drivers starting the race from the pit lane rather than from the grid. These penalties were imposed due to extensive overnight changes made to their respective cars, specifically involving power unit components that exceeded the seasonal allowance under current regulations.

Pierre Gasly, driving for Alpine, incurred a 20-place grid penalty after changes were made to two power unit elements—namely the energy store and control electronics—beyond what is permitted for the season. Such alterations breach the Formula One Sporting Regulations, which limit the number of specific power unit components a driver can use across the calendar without incurring a penalty. Since these changes were unauthorized by the FIA technical delegate, they automatically triggered a sanction.

Liam Lawson, acting as a reserve driver and filling in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo at RB, received a staggering 50-place grid penalty due to a more comprehensive overhaul of his power unit. These alterations included several components being replaced, far exceeding the allotted limits. Given that the Formula 1 grid only accommodates 20 cars, Lawson’s nominal 50-place penalty was effectively unservable in the traditional format, and he was consequently directed to start from the pit lane.

According to FIA regulations, any driver who accumulates more than 15 grid place penalties is automatically required to start from the pit lane, regardless of their actual qualifying position. This rule serves to streamline procedures and prevent logistical confusion on race day. As such, both Gasly and Lawson were in clear breach of this threshold, making the pit lane start mandatory.

In an official document, FIA F1 technical delegate Jo Bauer explained the situation in detail. He noted that the power unit components in question were changed without prior approval, violating Article 40.3 of the 2025 Formula One Sporting Regulations. Additionally, further setup changes were made to the suspension of Lawson’s car, designated as number 30, which compounded the violation.

Bauer’s statement to the stewards emphasized that both car number 10 (Gasly) and car number 30 (Lawson) were required to begin the race from the pit lane under Article 40.9(a) of the same sporting code. This rare but clear-cut enforcement of regulations highlights the FIA’s commitment to ensuring technical fairness and consistency across the grid.

While these penalties meant both drivers were effectively removed from any strategic grid positioning, starting from the pit lane offered them a clean slate and the chance to avoid early-race traffic. Still, the penalties dealt a significant blow to their race prospects and underlined the strict limitations teams face under the current power unit rules.