Romain Grosjean handed 20-place penalty at Abu Dhabi GP for engine change

Lotus will be forced to fit a sixth engine to Romain Grosjean's car for the Abu Dhabi GP, with the Frenchman therefore handed a 20-place grid penalty.

The severity of the punishment reflects new rules introduced in 2014 which allow the use of only five complete power units per season.

Under Article 28.4 of the Sporting Regulations, using a sixth of any one of the power unit components results in a 10-place penalty, with five places added for each component used thereafter.

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With Lotus forced to replace the internal combustion engine, turbocharger and MGU-H energy recovery system on the Grosjean's Renault-powered E22, the three new components therefore gives the Frenchman a hefty total of 20 places.

Grosjean will therefore start at the back regardless of where he qualifies for Sunday's race. Yet there'll be even more pain for the 28-year-old this weekend.

So far, drivers sent to the back of the grid because of engine change penalties have been forced to serve the remainder at the next race.

However, with Abu Dhabi the title decider, stewards have instead added a time penalty. Assuming Grosjean doesn't qualify on pole (the best he's managed so far this season was fifth on the grid in Spain) he'll be forced to serve one of the following:

1-5 (remaining grid positions) - 5 second time penalty;

6-10  - 10 second time penalty;

11-20 - Drive-through penalty;

Over 20 - 10 second stop and go penalty.