Sainz talks about taking or not taking a grid penalty this weekend

Carlos Sainz will be hoping to get another good result in France in what will be the twelfth Grand Prix of 2022, but there is a chance he could be hampered by a grid penalty. The Ferrari driver says it is a good possibility, although the decision on whether to go with a new engine will not be made until later in the weekend.

Sainz is already at his maximum in terms of combustion engines, turbos and MGU-Hs, so it would mean a grid penalty if any of these engine parts were to be changed again. In Austria, the Spaniard crashed out with a rotted engine, so he will either have to drive with an older power unit from his pool or opt for a new one.

Sainz not sure yet

"It’s still under evaluation, we are still looking at all the available options," Sainz told Formula1.com. Several factors will determine whether or not a grid penalty will be given. "“We also need to see a bit how the overtaking is here, how everything comes into play you know with the heat, the tyres and we will take a decision but obviously there is a chance it will happen.”

Charles Leclerc is comfortable in terms of available components for now. The current world championship number two already changed his complete engine in Canada, giving him a bit more room in his components than Sainz. Italian media recently reported that Leclerc is likely to face another grid penalty in Belgium.