Franco Colapinto, penalized for the start in Abu Dhabi!

The Argentine will lose five positions on the starting grid with respect to the result he achieves in the classification. His teammate Alex Albon and Charles Leclerc will also have to retreat.

Hits take their toll on Formula 1 cars and not just financially, of course. The World Cup regulations put limits on certain elements, including the gearbox. And that is exactly where Williams’ problem lies on the Abu Dhabi weekend. The team announced that it will have to use new boxes in both FW46s and Franco Colapinto and Alex Albon were penalized with five positions on the starting grid for the last date of the World Cup.

Five. That is the maximum number of gearboxes that each car could use throughout the F1 calendar. In the case of the Argentine’s car, Williams installed seventh for the race in the United Arab Emirates. It is worth clarifying that the account is about the car and not about the driver, so the list includes those that should have been released with Logan Sargeant. The Thai, Colapinto’s colleague, will release his sixth box. Thus, once the classification is finished, both drivers must add five positions to the result they achieve to know in which position they will start.

The Williams boys will not be the only ones who will have to penalize in Abu Dhabi for technical issues. Charles Leclerc, who dominated the first practice session, will have to move back ten positions on the grid due to the battery change in his Ferrari. Bad news for the Monegasque, who is fighting for the runner-up position with Lando Norris, and for the Scuderia, which dreams of the Constructors’ title in a tough battle with McLaren.