Pedro de la Rosa incurs penalty for gearbox change

Pedro de la Rosa has picked up a 5-place grid penalty for tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix after a gearbox change was carried out on his F112 machine, which will most certainly see the Spaniard start the 61-lap race from 24th and last.

The issue on the gearbox was discovered after the Italian Grand Prix last time out around the Autodromo Internazionale di Monza, where Pedro de la Rosa was able to finish 18th, just ahead of team-mate Narain Karthikeyan. This weekend has seen HRT introduce several new upgrades to their car, including a new floor which has reportedly worked well after the opening day of running yesterday.

This penalty will not greatly impede HRT’s progress, as the Spanish outfit have unfortunately spent the season being eliminated after Q1 in qualifying. However, consistency during the race has seen HRT remain positive throughout the majority of the season.

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