F1: Ferrari gives Vettel fresh engine, gearbox

Ferrari has opted to fit a new power unit and gearbox to Sebastian Vettel's Formula 1 car ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.

The team is taking what is effectively a free penalty after Vettel qualified last at the Marina Bay street circuit due to what the four-time champion described as a "rare" suspension failure. The installation of the new power unit incurs a 20-place grid drop, but is  meaningless under the circumstances with Vettel at the back of the grid anyway.

The sixth elements of the internal combustion engine, traction control and MGU-H have all been installed, with the first of those leading to a 10-place drop and the other two five places apiece. A new gearbox means a further five-place penalty that is again irrelevant.

Despite his situation Vettel is still hoping for a strong points finish.

"We've some new tires, so maybe we can do something with the strategy depending on the safety cars," he said. "It's not impossible to overtake, at least the first couple of cars [ahead of him on the grid] we should be quite a lot quicker, so let's see what we can do. And then it could be the safety car puts us back to where we belong.

"I know it will be a long race, it's always two hours, there are a lot of things that can happen, so it will be stupid to say that in starting last you can only hope for one or two points.

"Anything can happen, and that will be the approach I have. I think we can still have a great race."

Originally on Autosport.com