Lewis Hamilton set for 30-place grid drop in Belgian GP after power unit changes

Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after taking two new complete power units on Friday, resulting in a 30-place grid penalty.

Hamilton said before Formula 1's summer break that he was likely to take a grid drop in either Belgium or Italy after being forced to use more components earlier in the year than planned. Drivers are limited to five of each power unit component in 2016, with penalties being awarded for exceeding this limit.

At the start of FP1 at Spa-Francorchamps on Friday, Mercedes confirmed that both Hamilton and teammate Nico Rosberg had taken a new power unit. Rosberg has now used four of each component.

By taking a sixth MGU-H and turbocharger, Hamilton triggered a 15-place grid penalty, which was repeated when Mercedes took another complete power unit for the Briton ahead of second practice.

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As a result, Hamilton now has a 30-place grid penalty to take into Sunday's race, handing Rosberg an opportunity to reduce the 19-point gap to his teammate in the drivers' championship.

Mercedes may opt to make use of Hamilton's grid penalty and take a third new power unit ahead of FP3, given he would still start P22 even with further sanctions.