Shortly before the start of on-track activity after the return from the summer break, the FIA confirmed the changes to the drivers’ power unit for the weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, and title candidate Charles Leclerc will have to serve a grid penalty for Sunday’s race and will start from the back of the pack.
The Monegasque is second in the general classification of drivers, behind Max Verstappen, who leads with an 80-point advantage that places him as the top favorite to revalidate the world championship.
Ferrari chose to make this change of components in the engine because the Belgian track has great opportunities for overtaking, with the climb to the Raidillon and the long Kemmel straight, in addition to the ever-present possibilities of imminent rain that modify the conditions of the asphalt.
In the document provided by the FIA before the start of the first free practice session, the parts that Charles Leclerc will replace in his F1-75 are shown, including the gearbox and the renewed hybrid system, which increases the engine power.
For this reason, the man from Monaco will have to start the race in Belgium from the bottom of the grid, as happened in Canada, where he achieved an effective comeback to maintain, at the time, his hopes for the title against the Dutchman from Red Bull.
However, on the mythical Ardennes route, the Prancing Horse ‘s bet will be Carlos Sainz, who will not enjoy the new engine, but has a more complete wardrobe of parts after the sanctions he has already served.
The mechanical failures of the 066/7 power unit in critical situations, such as in Barcelona or Baku, when they comfortably led the tests, or in Austria when they were going to get a double with the Spaniard subtracting points from Max Verstappen, have made the chances of repeating the success of 2008 in, at least, the constructors’ world championship are almost negligible.
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