McLaren-Honda driver Stoffel Vandoorne has admitted an engine penalty was “only a matter of time” after he was handed a 15-place grid drop for the Russian Grand Prix.
Vandoorne inched closer to a sanction after his MCL32 was fitted with a new MGU-H and Turbocharger prior to practice at Sochi, his fourth version of the respective power unit elements.
Each driver is permitted four versions of each of the six power unit elements per season, with penalties applied if the allocation is breached by fitting a fifth part.
Vandoorne returned to the McLaren garage during the closing stages of the first session at Sochi complaining of a loss of power, and a suspected MGU-K issue was detected.
McLaren had to fit a new MGU-H and Turbocharger to Vandoorne’s car between practice sessions, his fifth of both power unit elements, triggering a 15-place penalty.
McLaren has had to take regular engine-related grid penalties on both sides of the garage since Honda returned as its power unit supplier at the start of 2015.
Due to the partnership’s catalogue of reliability issues so far in 2017, Vandoorne says a penalty was inevitable.
“We had some engine problems again in FP1 – and that means we get a 15-place grid penalty this weekend,” he said.
“Still, it was really only a matter of time before we got a penalty since the start of the season has been tough for us.
“Unfortunately, today was a tough day but you have to try your best to move on from it. There’s nothing much we can do about the situation we’re in at the moment. Still, let’s hope some improvements will come soon.”
Vandoorne finished Friday in 16th place, four positions behind team-mate Fernando Alonso.
