Jenson Button’s Monaco Grand Prix cameo has suffered a blow after McLaren were hit with 15-places worth of power unit component grid penalties.
The stewards confirmed that Button would receive a ten place penalty for the car using a fifth turbo charger in the season, with a second five place penalty for a fifth MGU-H.
The penalties will be especially frustrating for McLaren, who showed reasonable pace in final practice with Stoffel Vandoorne recording the tenth fastest time, just over a tenth ahead of Button in P12.
Vandoorne is also guaranteed a grid penalty of his own, following his race-ending collision with Felipe Massa’s Williams in Spain.
StefMeister (@stefmeister)
27th May 2017, 11:17
It’s at the point now where its more newsworthy to report the days when Honda don’t suffer any problems.
Ruben
27th May 2017, 11:31
And somewhere in the paddock Mark Webber is telling everyone “Don’t make me say I told you so but…”
Strontium (@strontium)
27th May 2017, 12:04
+1 :(
petebaldwin (@)
27th May 2017, 17:50
I’d have loved to see Alonso’s face when he heard of the 15 place penalty!
Sorry, did I hear someone ask why I didn’t want to race at Monaco?
Zomtec
27th May 2017, 11:59
So starting on SS and pitting for US is the way to go then.
PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
27th May 2017, 12:05
I’m surprised McLaren just didn’t take a new everything, give JB the penalties and Alonso can go free for another couple of weekends.
Joao (@johnmilk)
27th May 2017, 12:28
Definitely. Maybe they are waiting after qualifying to “find” new problems
De
27th May 2017, 13:57
New everything for another couple of weekends??? That’s very optimistic because that would meant less than 10 Honda engines for 2017, I wouldn’t bet on it. Unless you count the normal weekends without race as well.
TribalTalker (@tribaltalker)
27th May 2017, 13:43
On a positive note, Button now has a range of innovative yet risky tyre strategies to choose from.
OOliver
27th May 2017, 15:44
Can he just come in after the parade lap and change tyres then run until the end.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
27th May 2017, 16:23
Predictable penalty, Honda were on this path and after saving it for Spain there wasn’t any more for Monaco. I t’s sad that McLaren couldn’t even keep enough PU elements to have a normal Monaco.
petebaldwin (@)
27th May 2017, 17:42
Welcome back to McLaren Jenson. Been missing it? No?? Why ever not!?