Lindblad, Colapinto and Bortoleto handed Austin grid penalties

Arvid Lindblad, Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto will all lose grid positions at the United States Grand Prix after exceeding permitted allocations for power-unit components.

The penalties will affect their starting positions at the Circuit of The Americas. Lindblad faces a five-place drop, Colapinto will lose 10 places from his qualifying result, while Bortoleto is expected to start from the back after a 20-place penalty.

Lindblad takes another ICE beyond his allocation

Racing Bulls has fitted Lindblad with a sixth internal combustion engine (ICE) of the season, two more than the permitted allocation of four. The driver had already started from the rear in Malaysia after the team installed his fifth ICE; the latest change brings a five-place penalty for Austin.

The penalty follows a previous power-unit setback for the rookie, who started from the back of the grid after a change in Malaysia.

Colapinto’s penalty comes after Alpine fitted a fourth control electronics unit of his campaign. That change means the Argentine will drop 10 positions from wherever he qualifies.

Bortoleto faces the largest drop

Audi has made several changes to Bortoleto’s car. He has taken a fourth energy store and a fourth control electronics unit, taking both components beyond their permitted allocations and producing a 20-place penalty.

The team has also replaced his ICE, turbocharger, exhaust set and a power-unit ancillary component. Those parts remain within their respective allocations, so they do not add to his penalty. The resulting 20-place drop means Bortoleto is likely to start at the rear of the field.

The regulations apply a 10-place penalty when a driver first exceeds the allocation for a power-unit element. Further breaches bring five-place drops, with penalties at the same event added together. Any total greater than 15 places sends the driver to the back of the grid.

Colapinto has also faced a grid drop earlier in the season; F1LivePulse previously reported on his five-place penalty after a Baku collision.

Qualifying begins at 1600 local time on Saturday. The race starts at 1500 on Sunday in Austin.