The Red Bull driver, Isack Hadjar, will start from the back of the grid in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, after replacing his fifth engine of the 2026 season.
Hadjar has been fitted with a new internal combustion engine, a turbo, and an exhaust system, thus exceeding the maximum quota of four units per season. As a result, the penalty he must serve exceeds 15 places, meaning that the Frenchman will start from the twenty-second position.
In remarks prior to the race, Hadjar had anticipated that his streak of five consecutive finishes among the top six could come to an end, considering his starting position. ‘This time, achieving another top-six qualifying will be tough, but we will try,’ he said to Canal+. His main objective will be to optimize race pace during the competition.
This weekend, he hopes to enjoy the experience on track, considering that Spa is known for its overtaking opportunities. ‘A lot can happen, and we have a good race pace, so I hope it’s a fun Sunday.’
On the other hand, his teammate, Max Verstappen, is also replacing his engine but does not face the same risk of penalty, as he has only used two units so far. Additionally, the world champion, Lando Norris, will start the race from the back of the grid after changing his battery, including a new electronic system, due to reliability issues.
Other drivers like Lance Stroll from Aston Martin are also facing similar penalties for installing new engines, expecting a challenging race for all of them.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
