Lando Norris will have to take a 10-place grid penalty for this weekend’s Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix as a consequence of McLaren switching to the latest specification of Mercedes power unit.
The new specification of Mercedes power unit has a number of reliability improvements and debuted on the factory Mercedes cars at the Austrian Grand Prix - with other customers Alpine and Williams also getting the new specification at the following race, the British GP.
The McLaren drivers weren’t swapped onto the new power units there as they still had mileage available on many of their components, having faced multiple reliability issues early in the season - including two different battery failures that meant neither driver could start the Chinese GP.
Norris also had a battery failure on his McLaren during practice at the Japanese Grand Prix, putting him on his third and final allowed battery before triggering an automatic grid penalty.
That grid penalty was essentially inevitable, but by taking the new engine components later, it's been delayed to Spa and there are potentially fewer grid penalties in the long run.
Norris will be moved back 10 places from wherever he qualifies this weekend. Oscar Piastri also gets the update but does not have to serve a penalty.
McLaren also has a new upgraded rear wing to trial in practice at Spa.
from The Race https://ift.tt/S9NyDO7
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