Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz will all take the start of Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix from the pit lane after their teams replaced multiple power-unit components and other parts, breaching Formula One’s parc fermé restrictions. Ferrari fitted Hamilton’s SF-25 with a complete new power unit—engine, turbo, MGU-H, MGU-K, battery, control electronics and exhaust—after the seven-time world champion qualified 16th. Aston Martin and Mercedes made similar engine changes for Alonso and Antonelli, while Williams adjusted the aerodynamics and mechanics of Sainz’s FW47 following the Spaniard’s 15th-place qualifying result. Because of the combined penalties, only 17 cars will line up on the Spa-Francorchamps grid, with the four penalised drivers joining the race from the pit lane once the field has passed the exit. The FIA confirmed the decisions on Saturday evening. Sunday’s race is expected to be run in wet conditions; earlier support events were disrupted by heavy rain, with the Formula Two feature starting behind the safety car and the Formula Three contest cancelled. Teams hope that fresh engines and flexible set-ups will help their drivers recover positions over the 44-lap distance on the longest circuit in the championship.
🏎️ Carlos Sainz también saldrá desde el pit-lane en Spa https://t.co/QjyozZIWDa
Hamilton, Antonelli et Alonso prendront le départ du Grand Prix de Belgique depuis la voie des stands ➡️ https://t.co/OoS61cwLWb https://t.co/MQuIWeJq1S
Hamilton to start from the pit lane in Belgium https://t.co/AiwfNoJ1Vk https://t.co/AiwfNoJ1Vk