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Alfa Romeo's Giovinazzi set for Azerbaijan Grand Prix grid penalty

Antonio Giovinazzi is set for a 10-place Azerbaijan Grand Prix grid penalty as both he and Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team-mate Kimi Raikkonen have taken Ferrari's new spec control electronics.

The upgraded version was fast tracked through the system after Charles Leclerc suffered the failure that cost him victory in the Bahrain GP, and was used by the works Ferrari and Haas drivers in the subsequent event in China.

But Alfa opted not to take it, because its release by Ferrari came relatively late and some bespoke installation work would have had to be done in the field at the last minute.

When Giovinazzi subsequently suffered a failure in qualifying at Shanghai, Alfa team boss Fred Vasseur took full responsibility for not authorising the change and vowed to use the new units in Azerbaijan.

After China the team did some work back at its Hinwil base on the new installation - which involves revised cabling and water lines among other changes - prior to fitting the new CE units in the Baku pit garage this week.

In the interim Giovinazzi had to take a fresh example of the old spec for the race in China, which means that the new spec he will run this weekend will be his third CE of the year - triggering a 10-place penalty, as drivers are only allowed two for the season.

Raikkonen managed to get to the end of the Chinese GP having used only his original CE in all three races.

But he is now on the bubble for penalties if he needs another during the year, with the Ferrari and Haas drivers in the same position.

Zdroj: autosport.com