Lando Norris, the reigning world champion, will incur a 10-place grid penalty at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. McLaren has fitted his car with a fourth power electronics unit, exceeding the permitted allocation of three for the 2026 season.
This decision stems from a series of reliability issues earlier in the season. Norris’s first power electronics unit suffered a terminal failure in China, preventing him from starting the race.
A second unit, introduced in Japan, required remedial work after issues during practice. It then experienced a terminal failure in the second practice session in Monaco.
McLaren strategically chose the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for the penalty due to its overtaking opportunities. This offers Norris the best chance to recover positions, unlike the upcoming Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix.
The new power electronics unit incorporates reliability fixes recently introduced by Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains. McLaren intends to use this fourth unit for the remainder of the season.
Norris currently holds fifth position in the Drivers’ standings, 82 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, avoids a similar penalty due to fewer terminal failures.
Kimi Antonelli, leading the 2026 F1 Drivers’ Championship with 179 points, acknowledges that both Mercedes drivers have experienced significant bad luck.
‘We have both had bad luck at crucial moments, but that’s how it goes in motorsport,’ Antonelli stated.
Antonelli secured five consecutive victories between the Chinese and Monaco Grands Prix. However, he has been affected by reliability issues, failing to score points in two of the last three races.
His retirement in Barcelona and a five-second time penalty at Silverstone, which dropped him from ninth to fifteenth, exemplify these setbacks.
George Russell, currently 25 points behind Antonelli, believes this deficit accurately reflects their performances this season. Russell has also faced challenges adapting to the 2026 car’s characteristics.
Fernando Alonso anticipates a challenging Belgian Grand Prix. He expressed a desire to return home quickly after the race to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at 3:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. BST) at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Alonso has scored Aston Martin’s only point this season with a tenth-place finish in Monaco. The team previously struggled with vibration issues from its Honda power unit, leading to Alonso’s retirement in China.
Aston Martin plans to introduce a significant upgrade package, the B-spec AMR26, at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix. An upgraded Honda engine is expected at Zandvoort.
Alonso views these upgrades as a foundational step for future improvements, not a definitive solution for the current season.
Max Verstappen is focused on a strong performance after his retirement at Silverstone two weeks ago. His British Grand Prix ended due to a rear wing failure, a recurring issue after a similar incident in Austrian Grand Prix qualifying.
Verstappen, currently seventh in the championship, is mathematically unable to finish in the top two by the summer break. This could activate a performance-based contract clause for 2027.
He has spent time in the simulator at the factory and considers Spa-Francorchamps his favourite circuit. However, Verstappen warns of energy management challenges with the new 2026 power units on the long straights.
The Belgian Grand Prix weekend at Spa-Francorchamps commenced on Friday, July 17, with practice sessions. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, and the race on Sunday, July 19.
