Lance Stroll has been hit with a grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix, as alarming Aston Martin telemetry has exposed Aston Martin speed weaknesses at Spa – The Aston Martin driver’s difficult Belgian Grand Prix weekend has taken another blow after the FIA handed him a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding his seasonal MGU-K allocation.
This comes after fresh telemetry from Friday’s practice sessions revealed the severity of Aston Martin’s straight-line deficit at Spa-Francorchamps. Stroll was recorded reaching speeds lower than those of Formula 2, Formula 3, and even GT3 cars in one section of the iconic circuit.
This will be the Canadian’s fourth MGU-K of the 2026 Formula 1 season, exceeding the permitted allocation of three. FIA Technical Delegate Jo Bauer referred the matter to the stewards, triggering the automatic 10-place grid drop under Formula 1’s power unit regulations.
The FIA penalty adds to Stroll’s frustrating run
Stroll’s latest setback continues a difficult spell for the Aston Martin driver. Just one race ago, at Silverstone, he received three separate five-second penalties within nine laps for repeatedly exceeding track limits during the British Grand Prix.
Now, Aston Martin has been forced to change the Honda power unit again at Spa, sacrificing grid position in the hope of improving reliability for the rest of the season.
The penalty incurred at the Belgian Grand Prix applies specifically to the MGU-K, which is one of the key components of the hybrid system’s energy recovery system. Drivers are limited to three units across the championship before automatic grid penalties are applied.
Spa telemetry highlights Aston Martin’s biggest weakness
Adding to the team’s concerns, TJ13’s technical analysis from Friday’s opening practice session revealed that the AMR26 was underperforming on Spa’s longest straight.
According to telemetry shared during FP1, Stroll’s fastest lap showed the Aston Martin losing around 58 km/h after entering ‘superclipping’ on the Kemmel Straight. By the time he reached the Les Combes braking zone, his top speed had fallen to 249.7 km/h.
This prompted considerable discussion among Formula 1 fans, as comparisons suggested that at that point on the circuit, Stroll’s Aston Martin was travelling more slowly than representative speeds recorded by Formula 2, Formula 3, and even GT3 cars which often race at Spa throughout the year.
While this relates only to one section of the lap rather than the overall time, it illustrates how aggressively the Aston Martin was losing electrical deployment towards the end of the straight.
The telemetry also raises questions about Aston Martin’s energy deployment strategy, particularly at a circuit where straight-line efficiency is crucial for qualifying and race performance.
Norris and Hadjar are also set to incur penalties at the Belgian Grand Prix
Stroll is not the only driver carrying a grid penalty into Sunday’s race. Lando Norris has received a 10-place grid drop after McLaren introduced a fourth power electronics unit. The team had little alternative after two previous units suffered permanent failures earlier in the season, with Spa marking the debut of McLaren’s latest Mercedes power unit specification.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar will start from the back of the grid after exceeding the permitted allocation of power unit components, including a fifth internal combustion engine, turbocharger, and exhaust.
Speaking ahead of the weekend, Hadjar accepted the strategic decision:
“The goal is to focus on race pace. We know that qualifying performance is less important. We will probably start in 22nd place. But this is a circuit where overtaking is possible and anything can happen. We have good pace, so I’m looking forward to a fun race on Sunday.”
However, for Aston Martin, the challenge now extends beyond recovering from a grid penalty. Friday’s telemetry suggests that the team still has significant work to do to maximise its hybrid deployment, particularly at one of Formula 1’s most power-sensitive circuits.”
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Craig Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
During race weekends, Craig acts as desk lead, directing contributors, prioritising breaking stories, and ensuring timely publication across a fast-moving news cycle.
Craig’s work focuses heavily on real-time developments in the paddock, including team updates, regulatory decisions, and emerging controversies. This role requires a detailed understanding of Formula 1’s operational flow, from practice sessions through to race-day strategy and post-race fallout.
With experience managing editorial teams, Craig ensures that TJ13 delivers structured, reliable coverage while maintaining the site’s distinctive voice.
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