Grid penalties for multiple drivers have reshaped the starting order for the upcoming Formula 1 race at the Sepang International Circuit in Maleisië, according to racing.nl. Three drivers must drop down the grid following power unit component changes, dealing a significant setback to Red Bull Racing as Isack Hadjar faces a five-place penalty for installing his seventh internal combustion engine of the season.
Engine Component Overchanges Force Red Bull and Rival Teams Back
The technical regulations permit drivers to use only four power unit elements per season without incurring penalties. Hadjar’s installation of a seventh verbrandingsmotor in his RB22 triggers a mandatory five-place grid drop, as reported by racing.nl.
According to Motorsport.com, the penalties extend further down the grid. Franco Colapinto of Alpine incurs a 15-place total penalty, combining a five-place sanction for a collision he caused in Baku with a ten-place drop for adopting a new V6 power unit. Meanwhile, Arvid Lindblad faces the heaviest penalty of the weekend. Racing Bulls has equipped Lindblad’s car with multiple new elements—including a fifth internal combustion engine, fifth turbo, and fifth exhaust system—resulting in a 30-place cumulative grid penalty that forces the rookie to start from the very back of the formation regardless of his qualifying result, as detailed by racing.nl and Motorsport.com.
Driver Reactions and Qualifying Implications at Sepang
Max Verstappen claimed pole position for Red Bull on the Sepang International Circuit, setting a strong pace while his teammate Hadjar secured the third-fastest time in qualifying, as noted by RacingNews365. Despite the competitive speed of the RB22, Hadjar expressed frustration over the timing of his penalty. The car is since last week very good, so it’s nice to come back on such a moment,
Hadjar said in remarks reported by RacingNews365. I’m really enjoying it. To be able to fight for the top three, even if it wasn’t my best qualifying session, just gives a good feeling.
Hadjar acknowledged the difficulty of overcoming the sanction on a fast layout. It’s a bit of a pity that we pick up a penalty precisely on a circuit where we are so fast, but I have confidence that we can work our way through the field and go for a good result again,
Hadjar added to RacingNews365. GPBlog reports that Verstappen will start from pole position alongside Lewis Hamilton, while Hadjar’s five-place demotion moves him down to the eighth starting slot on the grid, elevating drivers like Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc.
Track Conditions and Strategic Adjustments for Race Day
Weather conditions threaten to complicate race strategies further on the Sepang circuit. GPBlog reported that heavy rain fell approximately half an hour before the start, leaving the track wet and forcing teams to likely begin on intermediate tires. The changing grip levels and the anticipated transition phase from damp to dry asphalt will place a premium on tactical timing for slick tire switches. Verstappen holds only a single fresh set of hard compound tires compared to Hamilton’s two, a limitation that could be offset by wet-weather running conditions where both front-row starters have historically excelled, while penalised drivers like Hadjar aim to capitalise on any opening race chaos.
The Sepang International Circuit hosted the Grand Prix weekend under strict technical scrutiny as teams manage their remaining power unit allocations for the remainder of the 2026 championship calendar.
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