Hadjar Set for Belgian GP Rear-Grid Start After Penalty

Isack Hadjar will start the Belgian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Red Bull fitted his RB22 with new internal combustion engine, turbocharger and exhaust components beyond his 2026 allocation. The changes triggered cumulative grid penalties that exceeded 15 places, which under Formula 1 rules converts to a rear-of-grid start. Hadjar said Red Bull will focus on race pace at Spa-Francorchamps, where he expects overtaking chances to give him a way back through the field, and he said another top-six finish would be difficult from 22nd after qualifying.

Lando Norris and Lance Stroll also picked up penalties for component changes at Spa. McLaren confirmed Norris will take a new control electronics unit and receive a 10-place grid drop, while Aston Martin fitted Stroll with a fourth MGU-K, also bringing a 10-place penalty. FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer confirmed the new components and said Stroll’s part was not in conformity with the sporting regulations, which triggered the automatic sanction.

Hadjar’s penalty came after Red Bull fitted new power unit elements that went beyond the season limit for those parts. He had already suffered engine-related problems earlier in the year, including a retirement in Australia and a lost chance at a podium in Monaco. McLaren chose Belgium for Norris’s component change because Spa’s layout offers better overtaking than Hungary or Zandvoort, and Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen also took new power unit parts without incurring a penalty.