Lewis Hamilton will take a grid penalty for this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, the team have confirmed.
A series of MGU-H issues in the early rounds put the world champion on the limit in regards to his allocation of five power units for the season and the expectation was, during the summer break, that Spa would see the Briton exceed it.
The reasoning is purely strategic as the long Kemmel straight after Eau Rouge provides a perfect opportunity for Hamilton to make progress and minimise the damage of starting down the order.
A spokesman for the team said ‘it is safe to assume he will start from the back of the field or very close’ a statement which solidifies the prior held understanding that Mercedes would opt to put two fresh units in his car to try and avoid further penalties for the rest of the season.
The move all but ensures Hamilton’s teammate and championship rival Nico Rosberg will cut into the 19-point lead the world champion had cultivated having only been beaten once by the German since the Monaco Grand Prix.
However, as we saw on various occasions in 2014 and because of the always unpredictable nature of the Spa weekend, nothing can be said for certain.
The biggest concern for Hamilton and Mercedes going forward is further engine issues between now and Abu Dhabi.
While Spa is a calculated risk, should further penalties be incurred during the rest of the season, we have already seen how the W07 isn’t the best at dealing with dirty air.
Around a circuit that could be less conducive for overtaking, that would be a major hindrance in Hamilton’s quest for a fourth world title and perhaps, some would say, Rosberg’s best chance.
