Double grid penalty for engine changes

Formula 1 governing body the FIA has announced several changes in the new sporting and technical regulations, released on Friday. From 2010 onwards, drivers can be handed a 10-place grid penalty for use of a second extra engine on one weekend, which will be applied for the next Grand Prix. Following the rule introduced last year, each driver will be permitted to make use of eight engines over the course of a Grand Prix season, forcing teams to carefully elect which unit should be used for specific races, with the number increasing from 17 to 19 this year.

However, the FIA has now announced that use of a second additional engine (such a using a ninth and tenth powerplant on one weekend) will result in a grid penalty for the following race as well.

'Each driver may use no more than eight engines during a Championship season,' the regulation states. 'Should a driver use more than eight engines he will drop ten places on the starting grid at the first Event during which each additional engine is used.

If two such additional engines are used during a single Event the driver concerned will drop ten places on the starting grid at that Event and at the following Event.'