Back-of-grid start confirmed as three drivers face Sepang setback

The sport returns to the Sepang International Circuit for the first time since 2017, with the challenging Malaysian venue immediately set to test the grid. High temperatures, frequent rain threats and a punishing track layout will make the weekend difficult enough, but three drivers will have added recovery drives on their hands after penalties were confirmed.

Racing Bulls driver Lindblad has received the most severe sanction of the trio. He will start from the back of the grid after his team elected to fit multiple new power-unit components to his car.

The new components exceed the allocation permitted under Formula 1’s regulations, automatically triggering the back-of-the-grid penalty. It means Lindblad’s qualifying position will have no bearing on his starting place, although a strong Saturday could still help his team’s strategic preparations for Sunday.

Lindblad was involved in a Turn 1 clash with Racing Bulls team-mate Liam Lawson at the previous round, but the stewards took no further action over that incident. His Sepang penalty is instead entirely related to the power-unit changes.

Red Bull’s Hadjar will also take a grid drop, confirming that he expects to be moved back five places from his qualifying position. Unlike Lindblad, Hadjar remains focused on making up ground during the race if Red Bull can deliver a competitive package around Sepang’s more conventional circuit configuration.

Hadjar had suggested that Sepang will offer Red Bull a more meaningful benchmark than the previous race in Baku. While he expects the team to be less naturally competitive than it was on the Azerbaijan street circuit, a podium battle would be an encouraging signal of the car’s underlying pace.

Colapinto completes the group of penalised drivers after his collision involving Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly and McLaren’s Lando Norris in Baku.

The Alpine driver was initially handed a 10-second time penalty by the stewards for causing the incident. However, because Colapinto was unable to serve the sanction during the race, it was converted into a five-place grid penalty for the following event.

All three drivers now face a difficult task at Sepang, where overtaking opportunities could prove vital. Lindblad must fight from the back, while Hadjar and Colapinto will need to limit the damage from their respective five-place demotions as Formula 1 makes its long-awaited return to Malaysia.