Carlos Sainz facing an engine penalty at the Italian Grand Prix – report

Michelle Foster
Carlos Sainz squints in the sun. France July 2022.

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz speaks to his engineer on the grid. France July 2022.

Carlos Sainz will reportedly take a new hybrid system at the Italian Grand Prix, including Ferrari’s revised lighter ERS.

The Spaniard last moved onto a new power unit with all its components at the French Grand Prix, but with that engine now four races old, Ferrari are considering putting in a new one at Monza.

Not only would the driver reap benefits from a new hybrid system around the high-speed circuit but overtaking is also possible at the Temple of Speed.

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto alluded to the engine change after the Dutch Grand Prix.


“From now, and until the end, we will have to replace the power unit and comply with penalties,” he said. “The moment to do it is yet to be decided.

“We will analyse everything and try to make the best choice.”

According to Motorsport.com, the team has decided on the Italian Grand Prix.

‘Sainz will have the new hybrid for which he will be penalised,’ read the report.

The change will include moving onto Ferrari’s new ERS, which is said to be lighter than the previous edition which should bring the F1-75 ‘closer to the minimum limit of 798 kg’.

The Scuderia will also be upping the power by pushing the engine mapping, something they have reported toned down in recent weeks following a spate of engine-related retirements.

That will be helpful given that the 28-year-old will be lining up at the back of the Italian Grand Prix grid due to the penalty.

Sainz was asked about it at Zandvoort, the Spaniard telling the media: “I know we have the plan to fit a new engine soon, that will also save us a couple of kilos, because we are still overweight.

“Hopefully it will give us more pace in qualifying and in the race than Max [Verstappen] and Charles [Leclerc]”.

Sainz, fifth in the Drivers’ Championship with 175 points, admits he’s a bit concerned about Red Bull’s pace ahead of Ferrari’s home race.

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz doing a pit stop during practice. Spain May 2022

“A bit, yeah, I’m not going to lie,” he told the official F1 website.

“After Spa, if there’s a track similar to Spa with similar configurations it’s Monza, no? And we know they are going to be strong there, it’s another track that should suit them, but this doesn’t mean that we can’t react from Spa and at least make their life a bit more difficult around Monza.

“You know wins can still happen in different ways. You might not be the fastest but you might find a way to make it around and win so we’re going to give it our best shot.”

Leclerc will not be taking the new hybrid system, the Monégasque driver’s F1-75 fitted with a new system as recently as the Belgian Grand Prix.