Alpine driver Franco Colapinto will take a 15-place grid penalty at Formula 1’s Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang after using a fifth Mercedes V6 internal combustion engine this year, exceeding the annual allowance of four. The additional 10-place penalty is on top of a five-place drop carried over from last weekend, which he received for causing a collision with Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris in Baku. The combined penalty is expected to put him on the back row.

Alpine decided to introduce the new engine because Colapinto was already set to lose five grid places, making a points finish difficult. The team considered the change worthwhile to limit the effect of the existing penalty. The engine is a new Mercedes power unit.

Alpine is in a close contest with Racing Bulls for fifth place in the constructors’ championship. Colapinto’s Baku accident hurt Alpine’s position as Racing Bulls capitalised; rather than close the gap, Alpine fell 15 points behind in the Azerbaijani capital.

Colapinto’s team-mate Gasly is also expected to receive a new power unit within the next few races. Alpine has not decided when to install it or take the resulting grid penalty.

Other drivers also face engine-related penalties in Malaysia. Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad will start at the back after taking a new engine, turbocharger and exhaust. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar will drop five places for using his seventh V6 engine of the year.

Colapinto has continued to receive Alpine’s support despite the Baku incident. A related report said he retained the backing of Alpine and team adviser Flavio Briatore following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix clash.

Based on reporting by Autosport.