Hadjar set for Belgian GP rear-grid start after engine penalty
NXTbets Pro | Published On: July 17, 2026
Hadjar penalty
Isack Hadjar will start the Belgian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Red Bull fitted new power-unit components to his car, and the change pushed him beyond the season allocation for those parts. Hadjar took a fifth internal combustion engine, turbocharger and exhaust system of the 2026 season. That set of changes crossed the limit for those power-unit pieces and left him expected to line up 22nd at Spa. It is a clear setback before the race begins and it changes the shape of his day at a circuit that can still reward a driver who can move forward. The penalty puts Hadjar in recovery mode straight away. He no longer controls where he starts. He has to work his way through the field if he wants to turn the weekend into something useful. The component change also shows how quickly a technical decision can alter a driver’s outlook. One choice in the garage can turn into a long afternoon on track, with overtaking, traffic and strategy all becoming part of the calculation. For Hadjar, the starting order now carries the weight of the story.
Spa grid penalties
Hadjar is not the only driver facing a grid hit at Spa. McLaren’s Lando Norris is due a 10-place grid penalty after a new electronics component exceeded his allocation, while Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll is due the same penalty after fitting a fourth MGU-K. The season maximum for the MGU-K is three, so Stroll’s change also went past the allowed limit. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took new power-unit parts without incurring a penalty, which gives the team a different result on another side of the garage. The three situations underline how each part change carries its own cost. Norris loses ten places. Stroll loses ten places. Hadjar goes to the back of the grid. Verstappen keeps his starting position. The field at Spa now reflects those different decisions, with each driver tied to a separate outcome under the power-unit rules. Hadjar’s case stands apart because he picked up multiple component changes at once, including the internal combustion engine, turbocharger and exhaust system. That pushed him past the season limit and put him in the last spot in the order. The wider picture is simple. Power-unit choices can move a driver up the performance curve, but they can also move him down the grid in a hurry.
Hadjar outlook
Hadjar did not hide the size of the challenge. He said another top-six finish would be difficult from the back of the grid. He also pointed to Spa’s overtaking opportunities and Red Bull’s race pace as reasons the race could still be worthwhile. That leaves him with a narrow but real route back into the race. The penalty has already taken away the advantage of a stronger start, so the task now shifts to damage control and forward motion. Spa gives a driver space to attack, but only if the car has pace and the timing works. Hadjar will need both. He cannot afford a slow opening phase because the field will separate quickly once the race settles. Every place he gains will have to come through on-track moves, clean execution and a car that can stay in the fight over longer runs. His comments frame the weekend in practical terms. A top-six result would take a major climb from the back. The circuit still offers passing chances. Red Bull’s race pace can keep the door open. That combination gives Hadjar a reason to keep pushing even after the penalty has locked in a difficult start.
