Charles Leclerc will have to serve a grid penalty at the Canadian Grand Prix after more changes to his Ferrari Formula 1 power unit.
Leclerc has started the last four grands prix from pole position but will not keep that run going in Montreal.
He suffered an engine failure while leading the last race in Azerbaijan and that broke the power unit beyond repair.
Leclerc still had one penalty-free change of the V6, MGU-H, MGU-K, energy store and control electronics remaining coming into this weekend but had already switched to a third turbocharger because of a failure in Spain.
Ferrari opted to fit several fresh components before FP1: a new V6, MGU-H, MGU-K and control electronics.
However, it has emerged that Ferrari then installed another new set of control electronics for FP2 as well.
This is therefore the third of the two permitted control electronics of the season for Leclerc, and will trigger an automatic 10-place grid penalty.
The question now is whether Ferrari opts to make further changes – such as taking a new turbocharger – and Leclerc ends up taking a 15-place grid penalty or even having to start from the back.
“Obviously starting a little bit more in the back but yeah, I think it was the best decision to make,” said Leclerc of the decision to change the engine.
“The overtaking was a bit more difficult than what I expected today, but the pace is there, so hopefully we can come back to where we want to be.”
A grid penalty has been inevitable since the Spain failure and the Azerbaijan problem only reinforced the reliability problem Ferrari finds itself facing.
Taking the drop here at least gives Leclerc the chance to make up ground on a track where overtaking is easier than some circuits.
However, it is still a blow for a driver seeking to regain ground in the championship – especially as points leader Max Verstappen ended Friday practice fastest for Red Bull.
