Ocon to start from the pits in US Grand Prix, Tsunoda also penalised

Esteban Ocon will have to start the United States Grand Prix from the pit lane. Alpine decided to replace engine parts on the Frenchman, but did not have permission from the FIA to do so. Yuki Tsunoda is also penalised: the AlphaTauri driver faces a five-place grid penalty for replacing his gearbox.

Tsunoda drops back to P18 due to his penalty, but Ocon's elimination means he will start from 17th place. Due to the Japanese's penalty, Fernando Alonso, Kevin Magnussen and Daniel Ricciardo all move up one place.

Whereas Tsunoda is penalised for replacing the gearbox of his AlphaTauri, Ocon gets the penalty for replacing engine parts without FIA permission. For that reason, the Frenchman will have to start his race from the pits. It seems like a strategic choice by Alpine: Ocon would start 17th after a poor qualifying session, so the penalty hurts him relatively little.