Raikkonen to take new gearbox, grid drop after crash

07 October 2017

Kimi Raikkonen's heavy crash in FP3 has forced Ferrari into an impromptu gearbox change, meaning the Finn is set to take a grid drop into Sunday's Grand Prix.

Raikkonen got out of shape at Degner 2 and slid through the gravel into the tyre wall mid-way through the final practice session at Suzuka, with his car having to be lifted back to the Ferrari garage.

Further inspection revealed gearbox damage, forcing the Scuderia into action - and with the change coming before six consecutive events, a five-place drop is a formality.

Raikkonen is not the only man facing a penalty for Sunday's grid: McLaren's Fernando Alonso is set to start from the back of the field after a cumulative 35-place drop, while Renault's Jolyon Palmer has his own 20-place drop to contend with. Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz meanwhile also faces a 20-place drop.