Carlos Sainz received a ten-place grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix in Formula 1. With the penalty, the Williams driver dropped from 14th to 19th place at Spa-Francorchamps.
Read more Belgian GP 2026: live coverage of the F1 Race at Spa-Francorchamps
The sanction was applied after the installation of the fourth electronic control unit in the Spanish driver’s car. Each driver can use only three units of this component throughout the season, and the change above the mandatory limit resulted in the loss of positions.
Sainz is the fifth driver penalized this weekend for changes in power unit components. Even so, he will not start from the back of the grid because Lance Stroll, Isack Hadjar, and Fernando Alonso also received penalties and will remain behind the Spaniard.
Read more F1: FIA releases the official starting grid for the 2026 Belgian GP
Lando Norris is another name affected by a change above the allowed quota. The McLaren driver had set the third-best time in qualifying but will lose ten positions and start the race in 13th.
With the penalties applied, Sainz appears 19th on the grid, ahead of Stroll, Hadjar, and Alonso. The final order still depends on the official confirmation of the starting grid for the Belgian GP.
Read more F2: Check the championship standings after the Belgium stage
