Lewis Hamilton set for Belgian Grand Prix grid penalty

24 August 2016 11:23

World champion Lewis Hamilton faces starting the second half of the Formula One season on the backfoot after his Mercedes team confirmed it is "likely" he will suffer a grid penalty for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

The penalty, which would see Hamilton demoted at least 10 places on the grid, has been looming over the British driver after he encountered a number of engine problems during the opening rounds of the season.

And the punishment could yet be even greater with additional changes to parts on Hamilton's engine meaning he could start as far back as last for the Spa-Francorchamps race under the sport's complex rules.

Mercedes had been weighing up whether to take the penalty in Belgium or at next Sunday's Italian Grand Prix with both circuits expected to offer Hamilton the best chance of fighting back through the field.

But it now appears as though Hamilton will take the penalty in the sport's first race back from its four-week summer shutdown.

"(An engine penalty) is likely and confirmation is expected tomorrow (Thursday)," Mercedes said.

A number of mechanical problems in the early phase of Hamilton's title defence contributed to him falling 43 points behind Nico Rosberg.

But the world champion heads to Belgium 19 points ahead of his Mercedes team-mate after a miraculous turnaround in which he won six of the last seven grands prix heading into the break.

Speaking earlier this week, Hamilton, who is now just one victory shy of 50 career wins, said: "The first half of the season was a bit of a rollercoaster, so it's great to be in the position I'm in with more than half of the races behind us.

"There will be more ups and downs to come, I'm sure. But the way myself and the team have performed so far gives me huge confidence.

"I'm feeling refreshed, re-energised and ready to go after a fun few weeks off, so hopefully everyone else has had a good rest too and we'll come out fighting."

Meanwhile, Mercedes have confirmed they will trial the Halo for the first time at a grand prix weekend.

Plans for the controversial cockpit protection device to become mandatory in the sport have been shelved until 2018 following a meeting of F1's strategy group last month.

But the Halo will continue to be tested with the device set to be attached to Rosberg's car in opening practice on Friday.

Source: PA