Solely 17 automobiles will line up on the grid for at the moment’s dash race as three drivers have chosen to begin from the pit lane.
The trio are profiting from the chance to vary their automobile’s set-ups earlier than the race.
All three drivers have been eradicated within the first spherical of qualifying for the dash race yesterday. Fernando Alonso will surrender sixteenth on the grid, whereas Lance Stroll and Zhou Guanyu certified on the again row.
The FIA confirmed Aston Martin have modified the bodywork specification and suspension set-ups on their drivers’ automobiles. The group reverted to an earlier model of its flooring this weekend in a bid to get on high of the dealing with issues each drivers have complained about in latest races.
Alonso stated yesterday the group meant to deal with at the moment’s 24-lap race like a apply session, echoing his remarks from the earlier dash occasion in Austin.
Sauber has additionally made adjustments to the suspension set-up of Zhou’s automobile. He was unable to finish his closing run in qualifying as his group despatched him out too late and the chequered flag had fallen by the point he reached the timing line. His group mate Valtteri Bottas reached the second spherical of qualifying and can begin fifteenth.
The drivers’ penalties will promote Esteban Ocon to sixteenth on the grid forward of Yuki Tsunoda.
F1 modified its dash occasion rules this 12 months by transferring the additional race to the primary session slot on Saturday, earlier than qualifying for the grand prix, and permitting groups to vary their automobiles’ set-up between the 2. Nevertheless groups seem like more and more keen to forfeit poor beginning place on the dash race grid in an effort to take a look at set-up adjustments to their automobile earlier than committing to them for qualifying.
Immediately’s race is the fifth of six dash races this 12 months. Of those, solely the primary in Shanghai noticed all 20 automobiles take the beginning from the grid.
Advert | Turn out to be a RaceFans supporter and
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a each day e-mail with all our newest tales – and nothing else. No advertising and marketing, no adverts. Enroll right here:
