F1 Bombshell! A Driver Faces The Biggest Grid Penalty In History After Us GP Stewards’ Investigation — A Stunning Blow That Could Change Everything! The Fallout From The United States Grand Prix Has Taken A Dramatic Turn, With An F1 Driver Hit By A Grid Penalty Described As The Biggest In The Sport’s History Following An Investigation By The Stewards. The Extraordinary Sanction Has Thrown The Spotlight Onto What Happened At The Us Gp And Why Officials Decided Such A Severe Punishment Was Warranted. With Grid Positions Crucial In Formula 1, The Consequences Could Be Enormous For The Driver Involved. One Stewards’ Investigation. A Record-Breaking Penalty. And An F1 Decision That Has Sent Shockwaves Through The Paddock.

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F1 HISTORY MADE AS GABRIEL BORTOLETO HIT WITH STAGGERING 80-PLACE GRID PENALTY — AUDI STAR SMASHES JENSON BUTTON’S LONG-STANDING RECORD.

Lewis Hamilton (GBR) (Scuderia Ferrari HP) during free

An extraordinary punishment has thrown Gabriel Bortoleto’s United States Grand Prix weekend into chaos, with the Audi rookie facing the biggest grid penalty in Formula One history after a series of power-unit changes.

Bortoleto had qualified 13th for Sunday’s race in Austin, Texas, behind Audi team-mate Nico Hulkenberg. However, a growing list of engine-related penalties has left the Brazilian facing an almost unprecedented setback.

The 21-year-old arrived at qualifying already carrying a 20-place grid penalty after Audi fitted a fourth Control Electronics unit and a fourth Energy Store to his R26, exceeding the permitted allocation of three of each for the season.

Further power-unit changes were subsequently confirmed ahead of final practice, dramatically increasing his punishment.

F1 star hit with 80-place grid penalty as he's given biggest ever punishment - The Mirror

AN 80-PLACE PENALTY THAT SHATTERS THE RECORD

The additional components included a new internal combustion engine (ICE), turbocharger, exhaust set, MGU-K and power-unit ancillary component, each attracting a 10-place penalty.

Bortoleto also incurred further five-place penalties for additional Energy Store and Control Electronics units. Combined with the earlier sanction, the penalties accumulated to a staggering 80 places since his arrival in Texas.

That total surpasses the previous record held by Jenson Button, who received a 70-place grid penalty while racing for McLaren in 2015.

The stewards’ official decision confirmed a 60-place drop for the next race in which Bortoleto participates, reflecting the latest component infringements. The ruling cited Articles B8.2.2, B8.2.8a and B8.2.8b of the FIA Formula One regulations, which govern power-unit component limits and the associated penalties.

Although grid penalties cannot push a driver below the final starting position, the accumulation highlights the scale of Audi’s component changes and the challenge facing Bortoleto.

US GP starting grid after several grid penalties applied overnight | F1 | Sport | Express.co.uk

BORTOLETO STILL SEES REASONS TO BE OPTIMISTIC

Despite the punishment, the Brazilian remained encouraged by his performance and the pace he had found in the car.

Speaking to Globo earlier in the weekend, Bortoleto described his qualifying lap as one of the best he had produced all season.

“It was one of the best laps I’ve done this season. I felt it was an incredible lap, and in the last corner I think I lost about three tenths,” he said.

F1 driver slapped with biggest grid penalty in history at US GP | F1 | Sport | Express.co.uk

He believed that avoiding those lost tenths could have put him in contention for a top-three or top-four position in Q1.

Bortoleto also explained that his role in Q2 was primarily to help Hulkenberg by providing a tow. With only one available lap on heavily worn tyres, he knew his own chances of making progress were limited.

“I knew I was going to help him by giving him a tow, I tried my best, unfortunately he couldn’t get through to Q3. But that was the objective,” he added.

The Audi driver insisted he felt confident in the car and believed the team had genuine pace.

His record-breaking penalty, however, has overshadowed that optimism, leaving an extraordinary chapter in F1’s grid-penalty history and raising fresh questions about the team’s power-unit situation.