Lando Norris to start Belgian Grand Prix from 10th place after power unit penalty

McLaren confirmed that reigning world champion Lando Norris will receive a ten‑place grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa‑Francorchamps. The sanction follows the installation of a fourth power‑electronics unit – the maximum allowed under the 2026 FIA regulations is three – as the team adopts an upgraded Mercedes specification that improves reliability. Norris’s season has been hampered by repeated failures of earlier units: a terminal fault in China prevented him from starting, a second unit suffered problems in Japan and a repaired unit failed in Monaco practice. McLaren chose Belgium because overtaking is easier there than at the next two events in Hungary and the Netherlands, aiming to minimise the impact on his championship bid. The team plans to run the new unit for the remainder of the season, alongside a new rear‑wing and the latest Mercedes engine version. Norris currently sits fifth in the drivers’ standings, 82 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli, and will need to recover positions on a circuit known for its long straights and overtaking opportunities.