Formula 1’s return to Malaysia has already been overshadowed by grid penalties, with two Red Bull-linked drivers set to face starting-place drops at this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang.
Isack Hadjar has confirmed that he will receive a grid penalty after Red Bull exceeded its permitted allocation of power-unit components during the 2026 season. The penalty adds another challenge for the French driver as Formula 1 returns to the Malaysian circuit for the first time in eight years.
Hadjar’s Red Bull team has already been dealing with power-unit component limits, meaning the driver will have to recover positions during the race rather than starting from his qualifying position.
The penalty comes at an important stage of the championship, with every position becoming increasingly valuable as the season moves toward its final rounds. Hadjar will now need to produce a strong qualifying performance and make up the lost places once the race gets underway.
However, Hadjar is not the only driver affected by a grid penalty in Malaysia.
Racing Bulls has also confirmed that Arvid Lindblad will take a grid drop for the same Grand Prix. The announcement means both Red Bull-affiliated teams will have drivers starting lower than their qualifying positions.
Lindblad’s penalty creates another obstacle for the young driver, who will be hoping to make the most of his return to the Sepang International Circuit. The Malaysian track is known for its demanding corners, long straights and extremely hot conditions, making overtaking and tyre management major factors throughout the race.
The double penalty is particularly significant because Sepang is hosting the rearranged Bahrain Grand Prix after the original Sakhir event could not take place at its scheduled time. The unusual change has brought Formula 1 back to Malaysia, giving teams another opportunity to compete at a circuit absent from the calendar since 2017.
With two penalties already confirmed, the weekend could become a major test for both Hadjar and Lindblad. Their teams will need to carefully manage strategy, tyre degradation and race pace if they are to recover the positions lost through their grid penalties.
The penalties also highlight the importance of Formula 1’s strict power-unit allocation rules. Drivers who exceed the permitted number of components can face grid drops, turning what might otherwise be a strong qualifying result into a difficult race-day starting position.
As the Malaysian Grand Prix approaches, attention will now turn to qualifying and the exact starting positions for both drivers. Hadjar and Lindblad will have to fight through the field if they want to turn their penalty-hit weekends into strong results.
