Just four races into the season and already six drivers have received grid penalties.

While that of Sergey Sirotkin - unsuccessfully challenged by Williams yesterday - was down to the driver, as was that handed to Daniel Ricciardo, who was handed a 3-place penalty for his home race for not staying above the minimum time set by the FIA ECU under the red flag during FP2, and Marcus Ericsson for not slowing while a double yellow flag was being waved in the aftermath of a spin by his teammate in China, the remaining three were under the engine and gearbox regulations and involved Valtteri Bottas, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg.

With 17 races remaining and drivers limited to just three engines - not to mention talk of teams taking strategic penalties - there are fears that the latter stages of the season could become a lottery as the penalty toll mounts.

While many, including the sport's technical boss, Ross Brawn, want to see grid penalties done away with, Charlie Whiting admits that it is unlikely to be before 2021.

"We would like to get rid of all grid penalties, if we could, that's what we're working towards," he said, according to Motorsport.com.

While internal combustion engines are limited to three over the course of the season, some components are limited to two, while gearboxes must last for six consecutive events.

With an eye on the gearbox penalties in particular, asked if there might be a change in the rules any time soon, Whiting replied: "There is no need. It is a good system we have.

"I think if we changed anything it would be to a pool of gearboxes, like we have a pool of engines," he added. "So you are only allowed three gearboxes for the year and do what you like with them, but that's all you will have.

"It is one of the things we're thinking for 2021. We are introducing a fairly comprehensive package with a number of changes."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Paul C, 10/05/2018 15:13

"Thanks to the three engine rule and other equipment limits, teams will be working off these penalties forever. For the sake of F1 bag the limits and allow more testing for driver experience. If something needs to be curtailed, the factory control rooms (?) might be a better cost cutting area. "

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2. Posted by Insane Reindeer, 10/05/2018 6:55

"The easy way to sort this out is not to scrap the system but to actually use it. The teams don't care about the penalties because they never have to actually serve them all. If a car racks up a 35 grid place penalty then it has to serve every single one. Even if the car finishes the last race of the season with penalties still outstanding then they have to be served in the new season. Regardless of who is powering it. Or who is driving it. The teams have to see these as penalties. Until the do they will be able to just keep on ignoring them, and the rules that they are meant to be protecting. Will it cost the teams more money to make sure that they don't fall foul of the penalties? Of course! But they want to be there so they have to pony up. Maybe (and I am looking at you McLaren here) this would force some of your vastly over paid staff members to actually step up and do their jobs! "

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3. Posted by alvarezh3, 09/05/2018 21:02

"The grid penalty system has in my view, drawbacks. And in certain cases, it is unfair.

First, it tarnishes the spectacle by sometimes imposing multiple penalties to the point of pushing the competitor so far back it makes it worthless even to participate for there could, nor be, any reasonable chance -under normal circumstances- to even get a point out of the event.

Secondly, it is unfair because since two championships are in progress concurrently, when you penalize one infringement by the team you also penalize the driver, this even if the later had no fault. This could also work in reverse order.

To remedy this problem, my suggestion is to take away championship points from the infractor, depending, of course, on whom the culprit is.

Since there are three main players in the design, construction and operation of a formula 1 car, I suggest there should be an additional "engine builder" championship. This way if an engine starts to leak fluid and must be replaced, the engine builder is penalized (with points taken away) and not the rolling chassis designer/builder nor the driver, whom have no control, and hence, no fault on this issue.

Careful consideration must be taken in order for the amount of the points to be taken away are also fair. Just to give an example, if an engine must be replaced, it must be penalized enough to prevent the teams from having the option to get an advantage by installing a new engine in every event. The "championship point take away" must be carefully though of in order to be justly implemented.

Granted, there are instances where the responsibility of the infraction is hard to pinpoint, case in point is where a crash forced a transmission change. Did a transmission freeze caused the accident, or did the driver overshot it's braking point? Who is to be penalized? The rolling chassis manufacturer or the driver?. A careful investigation by the stewards is a must in order to apply a fair judgement.

There could be an instance (or instances) where you could not fairly apply all the responsibility of an infraction to just one of the three above mentioned protagonists (driver, chassis, plus engine manufacturer), a solution must be thought of (if it even exists) in such scenarios.

Some penalties should, in my view, be harsher. Take the case of a driver that overtakes in shortening a corner by driving outside the racing course. Not only would he need to give the position back, he would be penalized with championship points taken away even if he/she gives the position back, you could maybe even double (or triple?) the points amount in case he doesn't.

If in the above example, a driver who is already in a negative championship point position may not care to add negative points to his deficit. In order to keep him from increasing his demerit points purposely (in order to get some other advantage, for example, for the team), you could just add that any driver who accumulates X amount of negative points will be eliminated from driving on the championship and the team must utilize a reserve/substitute driver. It could even be written that when reaching "Y" amount of negative points he/she will be out for a race, an "X" amount is completely out.

This rough and basic proposal is no magic wand, nothing is perfect. I don't intent on having all the correct solutions for all the possible infringements to the rules (I believe no sanctioning body has). This idea could work for certain and not all cases.

Finally, I believe the main objective of the regulators should be to find a solution to get rid (or as much as possible) of the abuses caused by grid penalties, and to furthermore, fairly punish ONLY the appropriate culprit in each infringement in order to at least try to avoid unjust and negative consequences to whomever is untainted.

Just my 2 cents for (I hope) a better Formula 1 experience!

"

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4. Posted by Pete, 09/05/2018 19:02

"So if the "pool" of gearboxes are all shot, the driver does not race any more that season? Charlie needs to think things through before opening his mouth!! "

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5. Posted by Jezzer, 09/05/2018 18:34

"This ridiculous system didnt take 3 years to introduce, how come it will take 3 to scrap it. The teams hate it, the drivers hate it and and the spectators hate it. If it was a safety issue it could be changed within days if not weeks at the most. The longest this should take is by the beginning of next season. I would love to hear this proper Charlies reasons behind such a stupid statement! "

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6. Posted by Ro, 09/05/2018 16:57

"why wait till 2021 ? It shouldnt have been introduced in the first place. Do it now!"

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Whiting: FIA seeking to do away with grid penalties... by 2021

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