Sebastian Vettel to get five-place grid penalty at Monaco GP 

Written by David on May 17th, 2008 at 8:46 pmLast Update: May 17th, 2008 at 8:47 pm

Sebastian VettelScuderia Toro Rosso‘s new car, the STR3, will have its Grand Prix debut in Monaco, next weekend. However, the team’s German driver Sebastian Vettel, despite finally being able to race with the new car, will face a five place grid penalty in streets of the Principality. This is a consequence of this season’s new rules which impose that each driver may use no more than one gearbox for four consecutive Events in which his team competes. The new STR3 requires a new, different gearbox compared to the car the young German used in the last Grand Prix in Turkey.

Article 28 of the FIA Sporting Regulations for 2008 season reads:

“Each driver may use no more than one gearbox for four consecutive Events in which his team competes. Should a driver use a replacement gearbox he will drop five places on the starting grid at that Event and an additional five places each time a further gearbox is used.”

Vettel’s teammate Sebastien Bourdais however, won’t be penalised as the Frenchman didn’t finish the race at Istanbul Park.

“Monte Carlo is the last place you want a punishment like that,” the team’s co-owner Gerhard Berger told to German magazine Auto Motor und Sport.

No comments yet. Be the first.


Leave a Reply