Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Kimi Antonelli will start the Belgian Grand Prix from the pit lane. The trio were already eliminated in the first part of the qualifying round at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday.
Hamilton lost his fastest lap due to a track limits violation, Antonelli struggled to find confidence in the low-downforce Mercedes, and Alonso was only second to last, faster only than teammate Lance Stroll in what is considered Aston Martin’s worst ever qualifying result.
Sunday morning began with persistent rain and a wet track. Hamilton and Alonso were already driving with a setup more geared towards wet conditions, but Ferrari decided to adjust Hamilton’s suspension. Mercedes modified Antonelli’s rear wing to give him more confidence, making a start from the pit lane logical, especially with rain in the forecast.
Due to their poor starting positions, Ferrari, Mercedes, and Aston Martin seized the opportunity to strategically swap engine parts. All three drivers received a new V6 combustion engine, MGU-H, MGU-K, and turbo. Hamilton also received a new battery and control electronics. In this way, the teams add new parts to the pool at a relatively low ‘price’, as the drivers are already starting from the back.
