I do understand the need for sponsored links, but when they appear (and disappear) first in the list, they push all shortcuts forward, and that includes pinned shortcuts. I have organized them according to my preferences so that I can find them without any effort, but now all of them end up in different places making them difficult to find. Because of wraparound, some jump from right to left. Their position changes every time sponsored links appear or disappear, and I cannot even be sure how many of them there will be next time.
There is plenty of room on the new tab page. Sponsored links could be placed literally anywhere else on the page. They would even be more easily noticed there. It would be win-win situation.
