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Hamilton, Alonso, and Antonelli will start the Belgian GP from the pit lane due to engine changes breaching F1 rules.
F1: Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton (AP)
Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Kimi Antonelli will all start the Belgian Grand Prix from the pit lane after making several engine component changes that violated Formula 1’s sporting regulations.
The modifications, which were carried out after the cars had entered parc fermé, resulted in a breach of Article 40.9b of the F1 Sporting Regulations. As a result, all three drivers have forfeited their original grid positions.
Extensive Power Unit Changes Trigger Penalties
Hamilton’s Mercedes was fitted with a completely new power unit, including a new internal combustion engine (ICE), turbocharger (TC), MGU-H, MGU-K, energy store (ES), control electronics (CE), and exhaust system.
Both Alonso and Antonelli also received new ICEs, turbochargers, MGU-Hs, and MGU-Ks—components installed outside their allocated season pool, triggering mandatory pit-lane starts.
Originally, the trio had qualified in 16th (Hamilton), 18th (Antonelli), and 19th (Alonso), but the post-qualifying component changes now allow them to switch to wet setups for the race—an advantage as unpredictable weather looms over Spa-Francorchamps.
Early Qualifying Exits Compound Frustration
All three drivers failed to make it past Q1 during Saturday’s qualifying session, setting the stage for a challenging Sunday even before the penalties. Hamilton, who initially appeared to have done enough to progress to Q2, had his fastest lap time deleted for a track-limits infringement at Raidillon. The infraction dropped him to 16th on the timing sheets.
Hamilton expressed frustration with the decision but ultimately accepted responsibility for the outcome.
“I don’t agree, no. But I’m out,” he told reporters. “That’s my mistake, so I’m just really sorry to the team for all the hard work, all the testing, the filming day that we did, and all the preparation. And then you come here and you don’t even make it through Q1, which is unacceptable. I’m really sorry.”
With Hamilton, Alonso, and Antonelli now starting from the pit lane, only 17 cars will take their places on the starting grid for the Belgian Grand Prix.
The race is expected to be run in mixed weather conditions following heavy showers on Sunday morning, adding another layer of complexity to strategy and car setup.
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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