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FIA considering change to grid penalty system after Sochi farce

20:15, 02 Oct 2018

byMatt

The FIA is considering a change to the grid penalty system after the farce which left spectators with reduced action on Saturday. Just 10 cars ran during Q2 as a result of the penalties dished out.

When cars required new power unit elements, drivers receive penalties pushing them to the back of the grid. If multiple drivers have the same penalty, the order in which they come out of the pits in practice one determines grid positions. Being first out makes the penalty weaker.

Because of this system, drivers tend to avoid running in Q2 to save tyres and engine mileage. Three of the five drivers picking up penalties were fast enough to reach Q2 but didn't drive.

To avoid this lack of action, the FIA is considering changing the order to whoever qualifies highest, starts highest in the penalty positions.

"When you've got five drivers with exactly the same penalty, you then have to establish in what order they are supposed to be," Whiting told Autosport.

"I think there is another way, I've been talking about it to a few teams.

"Instead of having cars line up at the pit exit in a rather farcical way, and that sort of thing will only ever get worse if you have five drivers you will arrange them at the back in the order in which they qualified.

"That would provide some incentive for drivers to actually go and qualify, and try to qualify as high as they could at least."

There is no immediate plan to introduce this. We may well be waiting until 2019.