Grid Penalties - Help!

[j.freegard]

Can someone explain grid penalties for buying and fitting new powertrain parts?

At Imola I used a new ERs = 10 place penalty (as expected).

At Spa I used a new engine = back of the grid, dropped over 15 places... why?!

I thought - IRL - it was 10 places for first new item, 5 thereafter?

[j.freegard]

Is there any guidance out there? What algorithm does the game use for powertrain grid pens? Would be nice if game stated - in game.

[Josh-Auron]

The 10, 5 place rules is for using more than the "allocated' parts, so using more than the 3 engines etc etc. The penalty for SWAPPING engine parts but not going over that "unit limit" after qualy is similar but pretty sure it's just always the 10 in the game as part of parc ferme rules, tho usually it results in starting from pit lane if doing multiple, but otherwise usually last/at end in real life. Without looking back at races where ppl have started back from changing stuff/putting in new one n clarifying if its in or not within the specific "unit limit" I'd say the 10 places for swapping them (within limit) and 10 place grid penalty is kind of fair, it'd be like qualifying 3rd cuz every1 has 50% engines, then swapping to ur fresh engine with no downside to have big advantage in race. Bit of a "dirty" tactic n not real strategy.

If that makes sense.

[AoD_lexandro]

There is no penalty to changing your cars parts in parc ferme for engines and gearboxes. In fact its part of the rules that states parts may be changed with like for like parts on safety grounds, IE its unsafe to run the car with those parts as it may fail causing a crash. The game allows you to swap around any of your owned parts. Its only if you go above allocation that you get a penalty.

[Palanthis]

One of the things this game lacks is the grid before start.
It should be obvious that the starting grid is a basic thing for a racing game, but for some reason the starting grid is NOT in the game.

So, everytime pilots have a penalty, you just don't know what's the position of everyone, because you don't know what type of penalty it is, and then, you also don't have an upgraded grid.

The game should be more communicative about all these things.