FIA clarifies engine grid penalty rules

The FIA revised the approach to the formation of the starting grid in the event of engine grid penalties application.

A lot of drivers were given engine grid penalties at both Belgian and Italian Grands Prix earlier this year. This caused confusion as it was not clear what the starting grids for those races would look like for a significant amount of time.

The FIA addressed the issue and clarified the procedure for forming the starting grid at the latest World Motor Sport Council meeting.

According to Article 42.2 of the 2022 F1 sporting regulations, the procedure is as follows:

a) Classified drivers who have received 15 or less cumulative grid penalties will be allocated a temporary grid position equal to their qualifying classification plus the sum of their grid penalties. If two or more drivers share a temporary grid position, their relative order will be determined in accordance with their qualifying classification, with the slowest driver keeping their allocated temporary grid position, and the other drivers getting temporary grid positions immediately ahead of them.

b) Following the allocation of temporary grid positions to penalized drivers in accordance with (a), unpenalized classified drivers will be allocated any unoccupied grid position, in the sequence of their qualifying classification.

c) Following the allocation of grid positions to unpenalized classified drivers, penalized drivers with a temporary grid position, as defined in (a), will be moved up to fill any unoccupied grid position.

d) Classified drivers who have accrued more than 15 cumulative grid position penalties, or who have been penalized to start at the back of the grid, will start behind any other classified driver. Their relative position will be determined in accordance with their qualifying classification.

e) Unclassified drivers who have been permitted to participate by the stewards will be allocated grid positions behind all the classified drivers. Their relative positions will be determined in accordance with Article 39.3 (b).