The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Motor sport: Hamilton revs up for charge from back of grid.
Lewis Hamilton will start the Belgian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after serving a mammoth 30- place grid penalty following further changes to his engine yesterday.
The reigning world champion, who leads his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg by 19 points in this year’s title race, was already staring at a grid drop after his team confirmed he had taken on several new engine components in opening practice, thus exceeding the allocation he is allowed.
Under the sport’s complicated engine rules, his penalty could yet rise to as high as 75 places should Mercedes opt to fit further new parts to his engine – in order to ensure he does not incur any further penalties in the remaining races – before qualifying today.
But with only 22 drivers on the grid, the size of Hamilton’s punishment actually matters little with the world champion simply ordered to the back of the field and not incurring a further time penalty.
He will be joined there by McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, who will serve a 30-place grid drop for also using more engine parts than permitted.
Hamilton may choose to run only once in qualifying – he has to set at least one competitive time – with his grid position for tomorrow’s race already sealed.
But such a scenario will come as a blow to the thousands of British supporters who have travelled in excess of 300 miles to Belgium in anticipation of seeing a straight fight between the world champion and Rosberg for pole position.
They will, however, be provided with the tantalising prospect of watching Hamilton storm back through the field in tomorrow’s race.
“Itwas a straightforward day for me but a tough one for the guys in the garage with the engine change,” said Hamilton, who was off the pace in practice yesterday as he concentrated on his race strategy.
The penalty has been looming over Hamilton after he encountered several engine failures in the opening rounds of the season.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team had been weighing up whether to take the grid drop here at Spa-Francorchamps or at next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, with both circuits expected to offer him the best chance of fighting back through the field.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen led a surprise Red Bull one- two in second practice yesterday.
Rosberg set the pace yesterday morning ahead of Hamilton. But Rosberg was only sixth yesterday afternoon, one second slower than Verstappen’s best lap of 1min 48.085sec, with Hamilton 13th.
The curious result is likely to be a knock-on effect from Hamilton’s penalty.
Nevertheless, Red Bull will be boosted by their strong form here with Daniel Ricciardo 0.25sec slower than Belgium-born Verstappen. Nico Hulkenberg was third for Force India and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in fourth place.