2019 Grid penalty change confirmed

In 2019 we often had the peculiar sight of seeing cars lining up waiting for the green light at the end of the pit lane before FP1. This was so their grid penalties were actioned before other’s penalties, meaning that they would gain an advantage for the race. It would also mean that they would not take much part in qualifying as their grid position had already been determined for large penalties.

This has now been changed, so instead of it being the first one out in FP1, it will be the order in which the drivers qualify, so drivers will be pushed to the back of the grid in the order in which they qualified.

The idea is to keep qualifying entertaining, especially Q1, instead of seeing only 16 cars bother to set a lap.

Not as many drivers as expected received engine penalties in 2018, with plenty of drivers managing to keep within the three of each engine parts allowed.