Since Formula 1 is entering a triple header with the power tracks Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, most of the teams took the opportunity to introduce new engines this time.
Before this weekend, five drivers had already climbed up to their third and last engine of the season: Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel, Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz and George Russell.
For the spa weekend, both Mercedes drivers, Sergio Perez from Red Bull, both McLarens, Fernando Alonso from Alpine, Charles Leclerc from Ferrari, Lance Stroll from Aston, AlphaTauris and Nicholas Latifi from Williams made the switch.
For the time being, only the Ferrari customer teams Haas and Alfa Romeo are left with their second engines.
While many teams are satisfied with the mileage of their engines and can survive the rest of the campaign with the three engines in their pool, some drivers face the prospect of having to use a fourth engine at some point. That would trigger an automatic grid penalty.
Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Red Bull’s front runners Verstappen and Perez both lost their second engine due to accidental damage, so they have to be prepared for a start penalty at some point.
Ahead of the Belgian GP weekend, Verstappen said he wasn’t sure when Red Bull would decide to bring the fourth engine into play.
“I still have no idea because I just got a new engine,” said the Dutchman. “So we’re looking for where we can bring a new engine, if necessary. I can’t say anything about that yet. We do not know yet.”
The certainly one starting place penalty also applies to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, as both he and his teammate Carlos Sainz will take their fourth engine if their team decides to introduce the planned improved unit later in the campaign.
No date has been set for it, but team principal Mattia Binotto recently said he was optimistic about the plan that the unit will eventually come into play after Monza.
“It will be an important step towards the end of the season for us,” he said.
