Summary
- Hadjar expects a five-place grid drop linked to power unit component usage.
- Lindblad will start at the back after Racing Bulls confirmed component changes.
- Colapinto loses five places following the collision with Gasly and Norris in Azerbaijan.
Grid penalties are already set to reshape the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia before qualifying begins. Isack Hadjar, Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto face starting setbacks for Formula 1’s return to Sepang, although their final positions cannot be established until qualifying and the application of all penalties.
The cases have different origins. Hadjar and Lindblad face consequences from power unit component changes, while Colapinto brings a sporting sanction from the previous round in Azerbaijan.
Sepang grid penalties explained
| Driver | Team | Penalty announced or expected | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | Expected five-place drop | Power unit component allocation exceeded; specific replacement component not identified in the available information |
| Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | Back-of-the-grid start | Multiple fresh power unit components |
| Franco Colapinto | Alpine | Five-place drop | Baku collision penalty carried forward after he could not serve it during the race |
The table reflects information available on Thursday morning. It is a penalty overview, rather than a provisional starting grid.
Hadjar faces a recovery after his Baku podium
Hadjar revealed the expected five-place sanction while speaking at Sepang on Thursday. It complicates his second weekend back after a wrist injury, following his third-place finish in Azerbaijan.
“It is a bit difficult for me as I should be taking a five-place penalty,” Hadjar said.
“If we don’t, then that means we’re not fast enough; that’s it,” he added when discussing the need to recover through race pace.
His car has already exceeded its permitted component allocation. Usage during Liam Lawson’s appearances as his replacement counts towards the same allocation: a driver substitution does not reset the component tally.
Hadjar also expects Sepang to offer a tougher assessment of Red Bull’s competitiveness than Baku, where both cars reached the podium. The penalty increases the importance of having sustained performance over a race stint.
Lindblad must start from the back
Racing Bulls confirmed that Lindblad will receive multiple fresh power unit components at Sepang, triggering a back-of-the-grid start.
That differs from a five-place drop. Lindblad cannot preserve a front-running starting position by qualifying strongly: the sanction places him behind the drivers whose penalties do not require a rear-of-grid start.
However, a back-of-the-grid penalty should not automatically be described as a guaranteed last-place start. The final order depends on other sanctions and the applicable grid procedures.
Lindblad finished seventh in Baku, but his Malaysian weekend will now require a recovery through the field after the component changes.
Colapinto carries his Baku sanction into Malaysia
Colapinto’s five-place drop follows the collision involving Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly and McLaren’s Lando Norris in Azerbaijan.
The Argentine initially received a 10-second time penalty. Because he retired without serving it, the sanction was converted into a five-place grid penalty for his next race.
His qualifying time will remain valid, but his starting position will be adjusted when the penalties are applied. GRANDE PRÊMIO explains the circumstances in its report on Colapinto’s five-place penalty for Sepang.
Why qualifying will not tell the whole story
Saturday’s qualifying classification and Sunday’s starting grid will therefore differ. Hadjar and Colapinto face positional drops, while Lindblad’s sanction requires a start at the back.
Simply adding five to a driver’s qualifying position does not establish the complete grid. Multiple penalties can affect the same positions, and the final arrangement must account for every sanctioned driver.
A grid update after qualifying will provide the relevant starting order. Until then, the confirmed and expected penalties explain the setbacks these drivers face without assigning positions that remain unknown.
Formula 1 returns this weekend, from 2–4 October, to Malaysia, which hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Sepang.
F1 today: FAQ
What time is F1 qualifying at Sepang?
Qualifying starts on Saturday, 3 October, at 16:00 Malaysia time. That is 09:00 BST in the UK, 04:00 EDT in New York and Toronto, 01:00 PDT in Los Angeles and Vancouver, 13:30 IST in India and 18:00 AEST in Sydney.
Did Lewis Hamilton receive a grid penalty for the Bortoleto incident?
No. Hamilton received a warning after impeding Gabriel Bortoleto during FP2 at Sepang. Ferrari was fined €10,000, but Hamilton will not lose grid positions over the incident.
Why were F1 lap times at Sepang over four seconds slower than expected?
Pirelli identified low grip, dust and an abrasive surface that increased tyre sliding and degradation. Friday’s benchmark was more than four seconds slower than its qualifying simulation reference, rather than four seconds slower than the 2017 race weekend.
Which drivers face grid penalties at Sepang?
Hadjar expects a five-place drop, Lindblad will start at the back following power unit changes, and Colapinto carries a five-place penalty from Baku.
