Hamilton to take 20-place grid penaltyposted in F125 | 08 | 2016
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER Lewis Hamilton will serve a 20-place grid penalty at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
It’s long been known the three-time world champ would face the penalty, after his car used five MGU-H and turbo components in the first half of the season.
Hamilton confirmed today his Mercedes team will take its punishment at Spa, simply because of the nature of the circuit and the possibilities for overtaking.
"We will be taking a penalty here this weekend," Hamilton — who leads the championship by 19 points ahead of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, having won six of the last seven grands prix — said today. "I have no engines left. I'll do everything I can to minimise the impact it will have.
"Beyond that penalty I'll eventually take, I think I'll be able to continue with the momentum I had before the break.
"Winning on Sunday is the goal but it will be very hard. The gap has closed between the other cars in the third year of evolution of these cars.
"Red Bull have been very quick at some races, the same with Ferrari particularly and down the whole grid so it'll be harder than last year and the year before to climb through the field.
"All sorts of things can happen. I just hope I can get into the points.
"We win and lose together as a team. I don't look at it as incompetence; I see it as a growing experience because we have learned a lot from the issues that have happened, and hopefully they don't happen again.
"It's unfortunate I'm the test mouse, or whatever you want to call it, that has tested all of the issues as none of the other Mercedes engines have had the problems I have had."
Mercedes is poised to replace both the MGU-H and turbo, along with other components, in Hamilton’s race car. The team believes this will essentially ensure Hamilton will have a fresh power unit for the remaining nine races of the season.
Under FIA regulations, the sixth use of a component incurs a 10-place penalty, which means 31-year-old Hamilton is poised to drop 20 places on Sunday.
Related: Hamilton dominates German GP
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Jim McGill