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Top F1 driver, Max Verstappen has been handed a 10-place grid penalty at the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix 2024. The Dutch driver, who was involved in a horrific crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend. On Friday, July 26, the FIA announced that Verstappen has opted for a new power units ahead of weekend.
The Red Bull driver with this has moved onto a fifth internal combustion engine (ICE). As per the F1 regulations, should a driver use more power unit elements than the number permitted, a grid place penalty will be imposed upon them at the first event where each additional elements is used. Moreover, the first time the allocation of any of the seven power unit elements is exceeded, a 10-place grid penalty is handed, followed by a five-place grid drop on the second instance.
“I knew of course that it is coming,” Verstappen said on Thursday. “Some tracks naturally are a bit better than others. Of course, on a street circuit, you wouldn’t want to have an engine penalty,” he added.
Yuki Tsunoda to start from the back at Belgian Grand Prix
Not only Verstappen, VCARB’s Yuki Tsunoda has also been handed an uphill task after he’ll start the Belgian Grand Prix from the back of the grid. The VCARB has opted to install a new Honda engine in Tsunoda’s car, marking his fifth power unit replacement of the season.
Speaking of the F1 2024 calendar, Max Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Standings with 265 points, followed by Lando Norris (189 points), Charles Leclerc (162 points), Carlos Sainz (154 points) and Oscar Piastri (149 points) completing the top five. Yuki Tsunoda sits at 12th place with 22 points.
