Lance Stroll, Isack Hadjar and Lando Norris were handed grid penalties for the Belgian Grand Prix ahead of the race in Spa – The starting grid for the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix is set to look very different from the qualifying classification, as all three drivers have been confirmed to receive engine-related grid penalties. The three drivers will together incur a combined 50-place drop, dramatically reshuffling Sunday’s field at Spa-Francorchamps.
Norris had already been confirmed to take a 10-place grid penalty earlier in the weekend, and he has now been joined by Stroll and Hadjar, who have made further power unit changes, respectively with Aston Martin and Red Bull.
Stroll expects a difficult weekend for Aston Martin in Spa
The team has opted to install a new MGU-K on Stroll’s car, which will trigger a 10-place grid penalty under Formula 1’s power unit regulations, as they have exceeded the permitted allocation of components.
However, the penalty may ultimately have limited impact given Aston Martin’s expectations for the Belgian Grand Prix. The team struggled throughout Friday’s practice sessions, with both cars finishing towards the bottom of the timesheets on the high-speed Spa circuit. Qualifying on Saturday only confirmed the performance levels of the Aston Martin team, with both cars firmly rooted at the back.
Stroll admitted before qualifying that the venue would always expose the weaknesses of the AMR26.
“We know that Spa will be very difficult and probably the worst track of the year for us,” he said.
The Canadian therefore anticipates a challenging afternoon on Sunday, regardless of where he ultimately starts.
Isack Hadjar accepts 30-place penalty after Red Bull engine changes
Hadjar received the weekend’s largest sanction after Red Bull introduced multiple new power unit components to his car.
The French driver has taken a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger and exhaust system, with each component exceeding the seasonal allocation. Under Formula 1 regulations, these changes result in a 30-place grid penalty, meaning Hadjar is expected to start from the back of the field.
Despite this setback, the rookie remains optimistic about regaining positions during the race.
“We’ll probably start from last place,” he said, “but Spa is a track where overtaking is possible. A lot can happen, and we know we have decent pace. That’s why I expect to have a bit of fun on Sunday.”
Verstappen avoids penalty despite identical component changes
Interestingly, Max Verstappen‘s Red Bull received the same replacement components as Hadjar’s car.
However, as he had not yet exceeded Formula 1’s permitted allocation of these parts, the four-time world champion avoided any grid penalty and will keep the position he earns in qualifying.
The Spa grid will look very different
With Norris dropping 10 places, Stroll losing 10 positions, and Hülkenberg receiving a 30-place penalty, significant changes to the grid are expected before Sunday’s race even begins.
Spa-Francorchamps has traditionally offered some of the best overtaking opportunities on the Formula 1 calendar, thanks to its long straights and heavy braking zones. This could give drivers who are starting from a disadvantage an opportunity to catch up, making strategy and race pace particularly important.
While qualifying remains important, the confirmed penalties mean that the final starting order will differ greatly from the qualifying times, setting the scene for an unpredictable Belgian Grand Prix.
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