2015 Italian GP: Grid hit by plethora of penalties

MONZA , Italy - Former F1 world champions Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button are among six drivers hit with a plethora of penalties on the grid for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Button, the 2009 champion, and Alonso, a two-time champion, line up 15th and 16th on the 20-car grid.

RICCIARDO AND VERSTAPPEN ON BACK ROW

The McLaren duo are ahead of Carlos Sainz of Toro Rosso and Daniil Kvyat of Red Bull, with Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull and Dutch teenager Max Verstappen of Toro Rosso filling the back row.

The two Manor Marussia drivers Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi start from 13th and 14th places.

At the other end world champion Lewis Hamilton starts on pole as the Mercedes driver aims for his seventh win in 12 races this season.

In total the stewards gave 168 grid position penalties, mostly for engine changes, but in Verstappen's case, he was demoted to last because he also failed to clock a time during Saturday's (August 5) qualifying session.

An #ItalianGP Race Day morning ?????? The glorious #F1 titan that is Monza awaits! #WeLoveWhatWeDo ?? pic.twitter.com/bVd0bqUrHR

— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) September 6, 2015

None of the six drivers at the back of the grid received their full penalties. In Ricciardo's case, he faced a 50-places penalty for multiple engine changes.

He escaped the imposition of a full penalty following a rule change earlier this season by the sport's ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA).

The only non-technical grid penalty was awarded to Marcus Ericsson of Sauber.

The Swede was handed a three-place drop for blocking German Nico Hulkenberg's Force India during qualifying. He starts 12th after qualifying 10th and re-gained a place thanks to Sainz's penalties.

We #ME9Fans want to wish @Ericsson_Marcus and @SauberF1Team good luck in the #ItalianGP! pic.twitter.com/NZgEARcW0d

— FansOfMarcusEricsson (@FansOfMEricsson) September 6, 2015