F1: Button penalized for taking new Honda engine

Jenson Button is set to start at the back of the grid for the Japanese Grand Prix, after being handed a 35-place grid penalty for changing Formula 1 engine components.

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Honda has chosen to change the internal combustion unit, turbocharger, MGU-H, MGU-K, energy store and control electronics on Button's F1 car for "strategic" reasons.

As these elements will be his sixth of each of component this season, he exceeds his permitted allocation and incurs grid penalties as a result.

Button will run the updated engine block, which McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso has run all weekend, for the first time.

Honda had hoped to wait until the next race in Austin to introduce the update, to avoid taking penalties at its home race at Suzuka.

But after Button was eliminated in Q1 and ended up 17th fastest, Honda took the decision to make the change on Saturday night, as the grid drop will be minimal.

Originally on Autosport.com