Hamilton’s penalty up to 55 places at Belgian GP
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS: Lewis Hamilton’s grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix has increased to a whopping 55 places after Mercedes made further engine changes yesterday.
The defending Formula One champion and current championship leader was already condemned to start from the back of the grid after picking up a 15-place grid penalty in Friday morning’s first practice and a further 15 spots following another component change in the afternoon.
Given this, Mercedes took the opportunity to make multiple power unit changes — meaning a further and meaningless 25-place drop in a race of 22 cars — with a view to keeping Hamilton’s engine in good shape for the rest of the season.
Grid penalties apply only to the race weekend itself and do not carry over into the next race, meaning that Hamilton’s engine should be in top condition at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza next weekend and beyond that, providing he does not encounter further mechanical problems.
Hamilton is joined at the back by McLaren driver Fernando Alonso, who’s taking a 35-place hit for engine changes.
The 55-place drop equals the record grid penalty handed to Alonso at last year’s race in Spa, when his Mclaren teammate Jenson Button also picked up a 50-place penalty under the complex system.
With nothing to gain on the track, or times from rivals to chase down, Hamilton was free to focus on today’s race.
Spa is an exceptionally fast circuit with more than 70 percent of the race at full throttle and average speeds around 230kph. That will give Hamilton, who is one of the best at overtaking in F1, hope of still earning some significant points.
Starting from the back row at Spa will do little for Hamilton’s chances of a 50th career race win. But it will bring back exciting memories of his childhood days racing against the odds in karts.
“I had a really bad go-kart when I started and always had to start last because it was so bad, and then I drove through the field,” he said. “I hope I still know how to do it.”