Lando Norris to start Belgian Grand Prix from 10-place grid penalty

Lando Norris will receive a 10-place grid penalty at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix after McLaren installed a fourth battery unit on his car, exceeding the three-unit allocation permitted under Formula 1 regulations. The team fitted the new component alongside the latest Mercedes power unit specification.

Norris's previous unit lacked reliability improvements introduced after multiple failures earlier in the season.

McLaren's season McLaren, which won both the drivers' and constructors' titles last year, has faced performance and mechanical issues throughout the 2026 campaign. The team selected Spa-Francorchamps for the penalty because the circuit offers more overtaking opportunities than the Hungaroring.

McLaren expects new developments scheduled for the Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix to improve competitiveness after the summer break.

Norris's comments on the penalty

“I have to wait and see really how the overtaking is. We probably have a small straight-line speed advantage, comparing to people a little bit further back. So comparing to them we should have a good chance." Norris added that the penalty location is preferable to Hungary because overtaking is easier at Spa.”

McLaren's statement McLaren said the power electronics unit installed in Japan had worked reliably since Miami. The team added that it must take the new unit to gain reliability fixes introduced by Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains. The team plans to use the fourth unit for the rest of the season to maximize reliability while limiting further sporting penalties.