Two F1 stars get big grid penalty at Belgian GP after Lando Norris is punished
Two more F1 drivers are about to face big grid penalties, just a day after McLaren’s Lando Norris got a 10-place penalty for using too many engine parts.
The 10th race of the 2026 season happens at the famous Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, in the beautiful Ardennes area of Belgium. This track is the longest on the calendar, which makes passing easier. That’s one reason McLaren chose to fit Norris’ car with a new battery—the fourth this season—even though it’s one more than the rules allow.
Norris is coming into the weekend 5th in the driver standings with 97 points and two podium finishes. Despite the penalty, the 2025 world champion said on Thursday (July 16) that he’s “still confident” the team will have a strong race.
Norris isn’t the only one who’ll have to fight back on race day. On Friday (July 17), it was announced that Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar will start from the back after the team added several new power unit parts. According to F1.com, Hadjar’s RB22 will go over the limit for the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), Turbocharger, and Exhaust parts.
The rules say a driver can use only four ICEs and Turbochargers, three MGU-Ks, Energy Stores, and Control Electronics, plus four Exhaust sets during the season. Starting next year, these limits will be even lower.
If a driver breaks these limits now, they get a 10-place grid penalty for the first time. A second offense means a 5-place penalty. If the total penalty adds up to more than 15 places, the driver must start at the back of the grid.
Talking to Canal +, Hadjar said, “The goal will be to focus on race pace. We know qualifying won’t be great, and we’ll probably start 22nd. But Spa is a track where you can overtake, and many things can happen. We have good speed, so I hope to have a lot of fun on Sunday.”
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll will also drop 10 places after using a fourth MGU-K this season, which is over the allowed amount.