Albon joins Antonelli at the back of the grid for the Italian Grand Prix
Alex Albon's Italian Grand Prix weekend has become significantly more difficult after the Williams driver was handed a 20-place grid penalty at Monza.
The penalty comes after Williams fitted a fifth internal combustion engine and a fourth control electronics unit to Albon's car, taking both components beyond his permitted allocation for the season. Each change brought a 10-place penalty, combining for a total of 20 places.
But with the penalty exceeding 15 places, Albon will not simply drop 20 positions from wherever he qualifies. Instead, he will be sent to the back of the grid for Sunday's race.
That puts him alongside another driver already facing the same fate. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli is also carrying a major power unit penalty, meaning the two are set to share the back row at Monza if no further grid penalties are handed out before the race.
For Albon, that changes the entire focus of the weekend. Qualifying will still matter, but Sunday is now all about recovery, and at Monza, with its long straights and opportunities to overtake, Williams will be hoping there is a way back through the field.