Even before the Belgian Grand Prix weekend has started, Lando Norris has already received a grid penalty. Halfway through the season, the McLaren driver is fitted with new power electronics in his car for the fourth time, exceeding the allowed number of three units. As a result, Norris receives a ten-place grid penalty for the race at Spa-Francorchamps.
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McLaren explains how they screw the component onto Lando Norris’s car to gain an advantage from the reliability improvements implemented by engine supplier Mercedes. The team has chosen to install the latest version of the Mercedes engines in the cars for the upcoming race weekend. McLaren is doing this deliberately during the Belgian GP at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit because overtaking is relatively easy on the Belgian track.
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Ten-place grid penalty
“The McLaren Formula 1 Team will equip car number 1 this weekend in Spa with a fourth power electronics unit,” the team confirms in a statement. “This exceeds the allowed number of allocated units, and Lando will receive a ten-place grid penalty.” The grid penalty will only take effect after qualifying on Saturday and applies to Norris’s starting position for the race on Sunday.
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