F1 star hit with brutal penalty ahead of Belgian GP after major rule breach as nightmare season continues

The FIA had already issued power unit-related penalties to three Formula 1 stars ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, and now a former world champion has fallen victim to the same issue, adding to his already nightmare season.

Red Bull have exceeded the season allocation for the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), turbocharger, and exhaust on Isaac Hadjar’s car, adding up to a 30-place penalty and a back-of-the-grid start.

Lando Norris has been handed a 10-place grid penalty for this weekend’s race as McLaren have opted to fit a new power electronics unit to his car in an attempt to tackle recent reliability struggles; meanwhile, Lance Stroll was the third driver to receive a similar punishment.

Now, the Canadian’s teammate has suffered the same fate as Fernando Alonso. He will now start from the back of the grid, as his car had taken on a new energy store (ES), control electronics (PU-CE), and ancillary component (PU-ANC)—exceeding his allocations for the season on all three points.

Hector Vivas, Getty)

As per the regulations, the first time the allocation of any one of the elements is exceeded, a 10-place grid penalty will be applied, with the second time this occurs (and so on) resulting in a five-place grid drop—all penalties at the same event applying in a cumulative manner.

The reason that Alonso will be starting at the back of the grid is because if a driver incurs a penalty exceeding 15 grid places, they will be required to start the race at the back of the field regardless.

This is just the latest incident in what has been a nightmare season for the two-time world champion, in which he has failed to finish in his Aston Martin on four occasions.

The Spaniard has earned Aston Martin’s only point this season, when he finished 10th at the Monaco Grand Prix, while his teammate has failed to score any this campaign, with Stroll’s best finish being 15th in Canada.

Alonso’s penalty, which has left him at the back of the grid for the start of the race, should see him in for a long day behind the wheel, as, without a miracle or several retirements from other drivers in the field, it is likely he will finish the Grand Prix pointless once again.