Lando Norris takes 10-place grid penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix

Lando Norris will drop 10 places on the starting grid for the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix. McLaren has confirmed that Norris's MCL40 will run with new power unit elements beyond the season's regulatory allocation, triggering an automatic grid penalty.

As reported by Sky Sports and confirmed by Formula1.com, Norris has exceeded his allocation limit for the Control Electronics (the electronic control unit); the first time any single element's allocation is exceeded incurs a 10-place grid drop. The team chose Spa-Francorchamps to absorb the hit: the long Belgian circuit, rich in overtaking opportunities, allows drivers to climb back through the order during Sunday's race.

Norris is not alone in taking a hit at Spa. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) tumbles to the rear of the grid after Red Bull exceeded the allocation for the ICE, turbocharger and exhaust (a cumulative 30-place penalty and a back-of-grid start), while Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) incurs the same sanction on his MGU-K. The three penalties stack up on the eve of the Belgian weekend.

For Norris, currently fighting at the sharp end of the world championship, the grid drop complicates his podium ambitions at Spa, but the 7 km circuit offers room to recover. McLaren opted to take the engine change here rather than at a track less favourable to overtaking.

Sources

• [Sky Sports – Lando Norris: McLaren driver to take 10-place grid penalty at Belgian GP](https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13563918/lando-norris-mclaren-driver-to-take-10-place-grid-penalty-at-belgian-gp-for-exceeding-power-unit-element-limits)
• [Formula1.com – Isack Hadjar set for major grid penalty at Belgian Grand Prix (confirms Norris 10 places)](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/hadjar-set-for-major-grid-penalty-at-belgian-gp.7nsdAK1OslvQjWMCRhU85P)