The good news for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc? He will receive a new engine upgrade for this weekend’s 2021 Russian Grand Prix. The bad news? He will start from the back of the grid as a result of receiving a new, upgraded engine.
Formula One rules allow up to three engine upgrades per calendar season and Leclerc has already used his permitted number of engines this season so a new one means an automatic grid penalty.
Leclerc is on the receiving end of a new engine upgrade this weekend because his car’s battery packs were damaged in the multi-car pile-up at the start of the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix last month caused by Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas.
Leclerc currently sits in sixth place in the 2021 Formula 1 driver’s championship.