Fourth driver hit with grid penalty for Belgian GP and will start from the back

The two-time world champion becomes the fourth driver to receive a grid penalty this weekend, with teams taking advantage of Spa-Francorchamps' long straights and overtaking opportunities to introduce fresh power unit elements.

Alonso has taken a new energy store unit, control electronic unit and power unit ancillary component for this weekend's race. As the changes result in a penalty greater than 15 places, the Spaniard will automatically start from the rear of the field - although Aston Martin would have expected their drivers to be no further up than the back two rows of the grid.

Alonso joins a growing list of drivers taking strategic engine penalties at Spa, where the circuit's characteristics often make it one of the preferred venues to absorb a back-of-the-grid start.

Reigning world champion Lando Norris is the standout name of the bunch and will face a 10-place grid penalty after McLaren opted to install a fourth power electronics unit. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar has also been relegated to the back of the field after his car was fitted with a fifth internal combustion engine, turbocharger and exhaust system. Hadjar suffered another setback in FP3 after his car grounded to a halt at the end of the pitlane, although he was able to get back out on track.

Alonso's teammate Lance Stroll has also been handed a grid penalty after exceeding the permitted allocation of MGU-K components. The Aston Martin driver has taken a fourth MGU-K of the season, triggering an automatic 10-place grid drop.

The penalties are perhaps expected at Aston Martin, after Stroll said he is expecting Spa-Francorchamps to be the "worst circuit of the year" for the British team at this weekend's Belgian GP.

New upgrades are expected for the team in green in the following races - but not before Stroll and teammate Fernando Alonso face what is expected to be an energy starved circuit at Spa.

Previewing what could be dubbed a 'second home race' considering his mother was born in Belgium, Stroll told media: "We know that Spa’s going to be really difficult and probably the worst circuit of the year for us. It should be really difficult for us there, and, hopefully, Budapest is a big uplift in performance. We just have to be patient for the upgrades when they come. Hopefully, it brings a lot of performance."