Russell set for grid penalty at Spanish GP with gearbox change

George Russell is set to take a grid drop for the Spanish Grand Prix with an unscheduled gearbox change following his in free practice three.

The Williams driver came off track at Turn 4 in the closing five minutes of FP3, sliding into the barriers with the gear of his car making contact with the wall which triggered a red flag stoppage.

Williams has subsequently changed Russell’s gearbox while repairing the car after the which puts him a risk of a grid penalty.

Under F1 rules a gearbox must last six consecutive rounds, unless a driver is unable to finish a race, but with the British driver midway through his fifth F1 race weekend of the season it does not comply to FIA sporting regulations which lands drivers with a five-place grid penalty.

Williams is expected to fully repair Russell’s car in time for qualifying this afternoon.

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If Russell is hit with a grip drop, he becomes the second driver to take a grid penalty into the Spanish Grand Prix along with Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo who has a three-place grid penalty after causing his collision with Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix when he reversed into the Russian.