F1 News

Robert Kubica joins the Red Bull stable with grid penalties for an engine change

27 September 2019 at 11:00
  • Louis Shaw
  • Editor

Robert Kubica is set to start the Russian Grand Prix from the back of the grid as he has installed a brand new Mercedes engine to his car, giving him a grid penalty. It should not impact the Polish racer too much as he often qualifies at the back of the grid anyway. Red Bull and Toro Rosso also face grid penalties with Daniil Kvyat joining Kubica at the back of the grid. 

From the last 10 races, Kubica has started at the back 9 times, suggesting that the grid penalty is unlikely to have any impact on his race. 

Racing at his home Grand Prix, Daniil Kvyat will join Kubica on the final row of the grid as he has installed his fourth Honda engine of the season into his car. The Russian was forced out of FP1 with a fuel pressure issue and will hope to fix the problem and have a good weekend in front of his fans. 

In addition to the two major penalties, Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon and Max Verstappen will also receive a small penalty for just a new engine block (ICE). They each have a five-place grid penalty, meaning that the whole of the Red Bull stable is playing catch up in Russia.