Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Antonelli and Fernando Alonso will start the Belgian Grand Prix from the Pitlane on Sunday. Ferrari, Mercedes and Aston Martin modified the propellant groups of their pilots after the qualifications, automatically resulting in this penalty according to the regulations.
The three men had experienced difficult qualifications on Saturday in Spa-Francorchamps. Hamilton ranked 16th after removing his best time to exceed track limits. Antonelli finished 18th with his Mercedes, while Alonso took 19th place, only ahead of his teammate Lance Stroll.
Engine changes for the three drivers
The FIA technical report confirms that the three pilots will use new components for the rest of the competition. Hamilton, Antonelli and Alonso will each receive a fifth internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-H and MGU-K, exceeding the regulatory allocation of four units per season.
Hamilton also benefits from a third battery block and new electronic control systems, while the regulations only authorize two copies per season. Ferrari has also changed the suspension of his car.
“The internal combustion engine used by Lewis Hamilton is the fifth of the four new internal combustion engines authorized for the 2025 championship season and this does not comply with article 28.2 of the Formula 1 2025 sports regulations”indicates the official document.
Team strategies
These decisions are explained by the unfavorable starting positions of the three pilots. Starting 16th, 18th or 19th offers few points prospects, especially since the weather announces rain for the race.
Antonelli had already mentioned this possibility of change on Saturday. The Italian pilot is going through a difficult period with a single result in the points in the last six racing weekends.
For Alonso, this situation allows Aston Martin to introduce new components in its reserve at a time when the penalty remains limited given its position on the grid.
Ferrari also takes advantage of the situation to reset the engine components of Hamilton after a difficult qualifying weekend. By launching from the lane of the stands, the impact will be less. The Italian team can thus integrate new and more reliable elements for the next races, with the objective of improving performance and reliability on the rest of the season.
Application of regulations
These modifications, made without authorization from the FIA technical delegate, violate article 40.9 b) of the sports regulations. The official report specifies: “All the elements of the propellant group listed in this document have been replaced without the approval of the FIA technical delegate. »»
Cars numbers 44 (Hamilton), 12 (Antonelli) and 14 (Alonso) will therefore have to start from the stands in accordance with the regulations. The three pilots will await the passage of all the other competitors before joining the track.
This situation could present opportunities if the race proves to be hectic, in particular with the weather conditions announced in Spa-Francorchamps.
