Engine penalty means Button to start at back in Monaco
Jenson Button is set to start the Monaco GP from last position after picking up power unit change grid penalties.
Power units are allocated to cars and not drivers, so Button came into the weekend carrying Fernando Alonso’s season total of four turbos, and four MGU-Hs, with all concerned knowing that a fifth of either would lead to a penalty.
In fact, after detecting an issue after FP2 Honda has changed both. He gets 10 places for the first use of a fifth element, and five for any subsequent ones, which has left him with 15 places.
Button had looked set for a respectable grid position after taking 12th place in FP3 this morning, and then he backed that up by qualifying 9th in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, the good news for Alonso is that he will take over the new elements in Montreal and has a chance to get through a weekend or two with no further penalties.
