Spate of grid penalties at F1 Belgian GP

At least six drivers have incurred grid penalties for the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix after taking new power unit and/or gearbox components.

Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo Sauber), and Mick Schumacher (Haas) have taken new items from both of those categories, while Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Lando Norris (McLaren) have new power unit components only.

Verstappen has copped a rear of grid start having moved onto his fourth internal combustion engine, fourth turbo charger, fourth MGU-H, and fourth MGU-K in Practice 1.

Officially, he also incurred a five-position grid penalty for using a fifth gearbox driveline, gear change components, and auxiliary components (GBX DL) in the same session.

Ocon and Norris both incurred back of grid penalties, while Bottas’s two grid penalties sum to 25 positions, Schumacher’s two to 20 grid positions, and Leclerc’s two to 15 positions.

Per Article 42.3c) of Formula 1’s Sporting Regulations, when multiple drivers are sent to the back of the grid, they will be arranged in qualifying order.

Verstappen, meanwhile, was also summoned to Stewards for an alleged practice start breach in the latter Friday session.

Practice 3 at Spa-Francorchamps starts tonight at 21:00 AEST.

Grid penalties

* Gearbox Cases and Cassettes
** Energy Store
*** Control Electronics