Isack Hadjar, Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto have been given grid penalties for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia after exceeding their seasonal power-unit allocations.
Formula 1 reported Friday that Hadjar will drop five places, Lindblad must start at the back of the grid and Colapinto faces a combined 15-place penalty. Their final starting positions will be set after Saturday’s qualifying session at Sepang International Circuit.
Hadjar receives five-place penalty
Red Bull has installed a seventh internal-combustion engine of the season in Hadjar’s car. Each driver is allowed four ICEs under the 2026 allocation.
Hadjar has already exceeded the seasonal limit for every power-unit component. Formula 1 reported that the new ICE therefore carries a five-place grid penalty because it is a subsequent breach of that component allocation, rather than the first.
The penalty comes after Hadjar’s podium at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he finished third behind winner George Russell and Max Verstappen. According to Formula 1, Hadjar also finished second to Charles Leclerc in Friday’s second practice session at Sepang.
The five-place penalty means Hadjar will not start from his qualifying position. For example, if he qualifies fifth, he would be placed 10th before any other penalties or grid changes are applied.
Lindblad sent to back of grid
Racing Bulls rookie Lindblad has taken a fifth ICE, fifth turbocharger and fifth exhaust set. Drivers are permitted four of each component.
Each change carries a 10-place penalty because this is the first time Lindblad has exceeded the season limit for those elements. Together, the three sanctions amount to a nominal 30-place drop.
Formula 1 regulations require any driver whose penalties exceed 15 grid places to start at the back. Lindblad will therefore line up behind drivers who are not subject to that provision, with the full order depending on qualifying and any additional grid sanctions.
The 30-place total cannot be served literally, but qualifying will still determine Lindblad’s session result before the penalty sets his race starting position.
Colapinto faces combined 15-place drop
Alpine has fitted Colapinto’s fifth ICE of the season. Because this is his first breach of the ICE allocation, the change carries a 10-place grid penalty.
That penalty is added to a five-place drop carried over from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, giving Colapinto a total penalty of 15 places.
The Azerbaijan sanction followed Colapinto’s collision with Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren driver Lando Norris. The stewards issued a 10-second race penalty, but because Colapinto could not serve it during the event, it was converted into a five-place grid drop for his next race.
Why the penalties differ
The size of each penalty depends on the number of components changed and whether the driver has previously exceeded the allocation for that element.
Under the rules cited by Formula 1, using a power-unit element beyond its seasonal allowance for the first time results in a 10-place drop. Each subsequent use beyond the allowance carries a five-place penalty. Multiple penalties issued at the same event are cumulative.
Hadjar therefore receives five places for a subsequent excess, while Lindblad receives 30 places for first excesses involving three different elements. Colapinto receives 10 places for his first ICE excess, with his separate Azerbaijan sanction increasing his weekend total to 15.
Starting positions await qualifying
All three drivers can take part in qualifying. The penalties will then be applied after the session to determine the starting grid for Sunday’s race.
Hadjar and Colapinto will drop five and 15 places respectively from their qualifying positions, subject to the final application of all grid penalties. Lindblad is already required to start at the back.
Qualifying starts at 4 p.m. local time Saturday. The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. local time Sunday at Sepang.
