Lewis Hamilton will be taking a 30 place grid penalty at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. This confirms that Hamilton will start from last position, regardless of his qualifying performance on Saturday, but limits the possibility that current World Drivers’ Championship leader will need to take any more grid penalties near the end of the season.
It had already been confirmed prior to the start of the action on Friday that Hamilton would be handed a 15 place grid penalty for taking an additional power unit, putting him over the FIA’s power unit allocation for the season. It was originally predicted that the team would take the penalty at the Italian Grand Prix, but the team decided that Belgium would limit the damage.
Mercedes was given an additional grid penalty ahead of free practice two after opting to take a fresh power unit for the session. This will help to ensure that the Brit has enough power unit components to complete the season without being forced to take additional components and take another penalty.
Hamilton has used more power unit components than planned, as mechanical issues plagued the first part of the season. Hamilton is currently on his fifth internal combustion engine, fifth kinetic motor generator unit, seventh heat motor generator unit and seventh turbocharger.
With some new components now available for the team, it is expected that the team will be able to complete the season without taking any additional grid penalties. The team have also said that they have some components that can be salvaged from Hamilton’s previous power units if they need for components.
Hamilton Grid Penalty Likely in Italy, Not Belgium
Grid Penalties Cloud Hamilton’s Future Races
Reliability A Growing Concern In The Mercedes Garage
