Considering that the sprints are an completely separate event now, these penalties should not be applicable in the sprint. For a team like AT who are very unlikely to finish top 8, it is an easy way avoid any real consequences of the penalty.

Edit : Hell for any team, it is advantageous to take the penalty during the sprint which gives out reduced points and then have the fresh engine penalty free for the actual race where much more points are at stake

Oooffff… But probably…