Red Bull Racing will start the Malaysian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Isack Hadjar receives a five‑place grid drop, even as the newly upgraded W17 is slated to boost on‑track performance.
Upgrade hopes rise at Sepang
The upgrade, rolled out alongside Mercedes’ pending chassis update, hoped to move the W17 closer to the pace that delivered two podiums in Baku – Red Bull’s first clean sweep since China in 2024.
Grid‑penalty mechanics and consequences
Hadjar’s penalty follows the FIA’s power‑unit component rule: the first breach costs ten grid spots, each subsequent one drops five places. Having already exceeded the limit for every power‑unit element this season, any adjustment for Sepang will incur a five‑place drop.
Sepang’s layout offers overtaking chances
Hadjar described Sepang as an open track with very few walls, giving drivers the chance to push straightaway, in stark contrast to Baku’s tight corners that forced a cautious approach after a wrist injury.
Despite starting from the back, Red Bull believes that the upgraded package and the track’s overtaking possibilities can offset the penalty, with Hadjar noting a podium would validate the upgrade and his risk‑taking approach under normal conditions.
Photo by: Liam Fabre
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