Such is the current state of the sport, certainly in terms of the universally loathed grid penalty rules, at the recent Italian Grand Prix, pole-man Lewis Hamilton was the only driver who started from the same position for which he qualified.

With 9 drivers handed grid penalties ranging from 5 to 35, all for exceeding their allocation of power units or components, and with the likes of the Red Bull duo demoted to the back row, the sport (yet again) was made a laughing stock.

However, as the sport seeks an alternative, not wanting to punish the drivers but aware that teams (manufacturers) must be held to account for poor reliability, and with Ross Brawn admitting that it could be 2021 before changes can be made, the even stricter rules for 2018 mean we are likely to see repeats of the Monza madness.

Currently, drivers are limited to 4 Internal Combustion Engines and four of each of the components that comprise the power unit, the Turbocharger, MGU-H, MGU-K, Energy Stores and Control Electrics.

However, Article 23.3 a) of the 2018 Sporting Regulations, states: "Unless he drives for more than one team, each driver may use no more than 3 engines (ICE), 3 motor generator units-heat (MGU-H), 3 turbochargers (TC), 2 energy stores (ES), 2 control electronics (CE) and 2 motor generator units-kinetic (MGU-K).

"Should a driver use more than the numbers set in a) above of any one of the elements during a Championship season, a grid place penalty will be imposed upon him at the first event during which each additional element is used."

The first time an additional element is used will incur a ten grid place penalty, and subsequent changes will result in a five grid place penalty.
Any of the six elements will be deemed to have been used once the car's timing transponder has shown that it has left the pit lane.

With the 2018 calendar containing 21 events - though this has to be confirmed - this will put even more pressure on reliability.

Furthermore, the lowering of the limits and the resultant penalties are likely to leave manufactures less likely to introduce updates over the course of the season, and when they do these will be strictly limited.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Canuck, 22/09/2017 15:33

"If an engine blows, should the team using the engine or the constructor be penalized for supplying an unreliable component? Not finishing a race isn't enough of a penalty to a team? The lost of potential points when they cant finish a race is a cost to the team. When a driver brushes a wall and damages a gear box, is that not enough penalty? Are gear boxes suppose to be strong enough to withstand an impact? These rules do not take any of these factors into consideration. Are they afraid a driver might wreck a car in order to get a pass on replacement parts?

Is the price paid for engines/power unit a yearly cost or a per unit/component cost? "

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2. Posted by GrahamG, 22/09/2017 11:35

"But it's now common knowledge that this restriction on parts is increasing cost significantly because of the amount of testing and dyno time needed to ensure the required life. OK no free for all, but maybe engines and transmission to last three races and points deductions for the team for infraction. And enough to be noticable, but not to knock them out of contention"

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3. Posted by TedS, 22/09/2017 11:23

"Firstly either the driver is a part of the team, or he isn't. IF he is part of the team, then he should get the same penalty as the team when it comes to infractions. If he screws up and gets a 10 second stop and go for a jump start or a black flag for dangerous driving the entire team loses positions and points. Why can't people see that.

Secondly, if these penalties aren't there people will whine when Mercedes and Ferrari start using one engine per race getting upgrades while the rest of the paddock can't afford to do that and fall further and further behind.

So pick your poison.... you wanted to limit costs, you wanted to limit the development race.. this is the way to do it. "

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4. Posted by VC10-1103, 22/09/2017 11:12

"Instead of penalising the drivers, who are not responsible for engine reliabilty, why can't they just take points off the constructor? I appreciate this may result in a constructor finishing the year with a minus points score. "

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5. Posted by Ro, 22/09/2017 10:40

"Im afraid all these stupid rules will drive a lot of fans away. F1 as it is at the moment is a JOKE. I went to SPA for the 6 hour race last weekend and there was a historic F1 race. It was fabulous. The only driver I recognised was Nick Padmore, who also drives a Mini Miglia. The racing was great and the noise, well, you could only describe it as "operatic bliss". Come on Mr Brawn, get it changed, sooner rather than later."

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6. Posted by GrahamG, 22/09/2017 10:25

"Why not cancel all the races in 2018 and decide the results by drawing numbers out of a hat. It would seem to be about as relevant and probably a better reflection of the talents and speed of the teams, because this ongoing nonsense is making a farce of the whole thing
Utter, utter nonsense, when will we have F1 races again - perhaps never"

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7. Posted by Mad Matt, 22/09/2017 10:07

"I'm not saying I 100% agree with these penalties but I'm not sure they're as big a deal as some suggest.

I happened to watch the Italian GP with a new to F1 friend. The friend asked why people weren't starting in their expected positions and I explained that there were penalties if the teams didn't stick to their allocated engines etc. To my surprise the friend just said "Ahh, OK, that makes sense".

Off the back of that I spoke to some other people who don't watch F1 and they didn't se it as a problem. The big penalty numbers didn't put them off as I just said the number is just to indicate the severity of the infraction.

As I say, I'm not 100% for the penalties in their current form but I was surprised that "outsiders" didn't seem to think they were that stupid....."

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Drivers face even tougher component penalties in 2018

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