Breaking news
Formula 1 Belgian GP
Hamilton confirms engine penalty at Spa
Lewis Hamilton has confirmed he will get an engine change penalty in this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.
Pablo Elizalde
Edited: Aug 25, 2016, 3:19 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The championship leader has already used his fifth and final turbo and MGU-H, meaning a penalty will be handed as soon as he uses the sixth unit.
The Briton confirmed on Thursday that will be the case at Spa, although he did not elaborate on the exact plan.
"As far as I am aware we will be taking the penalty this weekend," said Hamilton.
"Naturally we already discussed engine penalties before, that will come into play for sure but I will do everything I can to minimise the impact I have.
"Otherwise, beyond that penalty that I will eventually take, I think I will be able to continue with the momentum I had before the break."
Hamilton, who has won six of the last seven races, admitted he is not thinking of winning the race, but rather about limiting the damage.
"I think in terms of winning, that is the goal but it will be very, very hard – the gap has closed between other cars, we are in third year of evolution of cars and Red Bull is quick – same as Ferrari," he said.
"It will be harder than it was last year or year before to climb through field, It will be about minimising the damage of taking a penalty."
The world champion, who was hit by a series of engine problems early in the year, insisted there was no point in pointing in blaming the team.
"It is a team sport, so we win and lose together as a team – sometimes it is not just a mistake just a thing that happens," he added.
"I don't look at it as incompetence, I look at it as a learning experience because we learned from the issues and they won't happen again."
Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble
Don’t miss our Belgian GP video preview…
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Ocon: "No big rivalry" with fellow Mercedes junior Wehrlein
Next article Massa, Bottas still awaiting 2017 decision from Williams
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Pablo Elizalde
Alpine becomes Pramac's main partner in MotoGP
MotoGP
MotoGP
Alpine becomes Pramac's main partner in MotoGP
Liberty Media's $4bn MotoGP deal facing EU probe
MotoGP
MotoGP
Liberty Media's $4bn MotoGP deal facing EU probe
Ocon wants answers to understand pace slump against Alpine team-mate
Formula 1
Formula 1
Ocon wants answers to understand pace slump against Alpine team-mate
More from
Lewis Hamilton
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
More from
Mercedes
Why Mercedes switched George Russell to its old F1 car spec in Singapore
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
3 h
Why Mercedes switched George Russell to its old F1 car spec in Singapore
Christian Horner admits that F1 rivalry with Toto Wolff became "theatre"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Christian Horner admits that F1 rivalry with Toto Wolff became "theatre"
Latest news
Franco Colapinto urges fans to stop the abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
2 h
Franco Colapinto urges fans to stop the abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”
Gresini: New MotoGP rules won't increase gap between factory and satellite teams
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
2 h
Gresini: New MotoGP rules won't increase gap between factory and satellite teams
Tristan McKee joins JR Motorsports in 2027 with future plans for full-time ride
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
2 h
Tristan McKee joins JR Motorsports in 2027 with future plans for full-time ride
Colton Herta eyes potential Indy 500 return and IMSA enduros as 2027 plans remain in flux
FIA F2
F2 FIA F2 2 h
Colton Herta eyes potential Indy 500 return and IMSA enduros as 2027 plans remain in flux
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe