Alonso and Stroll hit with grid penalties at Azerbaijan GP after taking new engine components

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will take grid penalties at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Aston Martin decided to implement a number of new engine components.

Alonso's car will feature a fresh internal combustion engine (ICE), thereby exceeding the permitted allocation of four across the season.

The Spaniard will also receive a new turbocharger (his fifth of the season) and power unit ancillary component (his ninth of the six allowed), further contributing to the incoming penalty.

Likewise, Stroll's AMR26 is now running his sixth turbocharger, seventh energy store unit, sixth control electronics unit and eighth power unit ancillary component.

As per the regulations, the first time the allocation of any power unit element is exceeded, a 10-place grid penalty will be applied, with the second time this occurs (and so on) resulting in a five-place grid drop – all penalties at the same event applying in a cumulative manner.

If a driver incurs a penalty exceeding 15 grid places, they will be required to start the race at the back of the field regardless.

That's the exact case for the Aston Martin pair as the FIA confirmed that Alonso will receive a 25-place grid penalty, with Stroll taking a drop of 20 positions. No matter their results in Friday's Qualifying session, which is set to begin at 1600 local time, they will line up on the back row, leaving them with an uphill battle to fight for points.