A grid penalty moves a driver back a set number of places on the starting grid as punishment for a rule violation. Common causes include taking a new power unit component beyond the permitted allocation, causing an avoidable collision in a previous race, or impeding another driver during qualifying. A five-place penalty, for example, drops a driver from third on the grid to eighth. Grid penalties are announced before qualifying or between qualifying and the race.
Example: He’s taken a new engine this weekend, so there’ll be a ten-place grid penalty regardless of where he qualifies.
A grid penalty is not the same as being sent to the back of the grid — the penalty is a fixed number of places, so a driver starting from pole with a five-place penalty starts fifth, not last.
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