Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Kimi Antonelli to Start 2025 Belgian Grand Prix from Pit Lane After Power Unit Changes
Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Kimi Antonelli will all begin the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix from the pit lane after their respective teams implemented a series of engine component replacements and technical modifications that violated key sections of the FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations. The changes were carried out after the cars were placed under parc fermé conditions, thereby triggering automatic penalties.
The unauthorized work on the three cars constituted a breach of Article 40.9b of the current Formula One sporting code, which prohibits modifications to key mechanical components once a car has entered parc fermé unless approved under exceptional circumstances. As a result, the FIA has ruled that all three drivers will be required to start Sunday’s race at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps from the pit lane, instead of their original grid positions.
Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has received a completely new power unit for the event at Spa. In addition to the full engine change, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team also opted to modify the rear suspension setup of his W16-based SF25 challenger — another alteration made in breach of the parc fermé regulations.
More specifically, Lewis Hamilton’s new engine installation includes an entirely fresh set of power unit elements: a new internal combustion engine (ICE), turbocharger (TC), motor generator unit–heat (MGU-H), motor generator unit–kinetic (MGU-K), energy store (ES), and control electronics (CE). All of these components exceed the seasonal allocation permitted under Article 28.2 of the 2025 FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations. The British driver has also taken on a new exhaust system, which is now the seventh of the eight allowed within his season-long allocation.
Meanwhile, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team driver Fernando Alonso and Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli have both received updated engine components as well. Like Hamilton, both Alonso and Antonelli have been fitted with a new internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-H, and MGU-K — all of which exceed the allocated quotas for the 2025 championship season and were changed after the cars were locked under parc fermé conditions. Consequently, the same pit-lane start penalty applies to both drivers.
Prior to the application of the penalties, Lewis Hamilton had originally qualified in 16th place, while Fernando Alonso secured 18th position and Kimi Antonelli qualified in 19th. Although their starting positions have now been reset due to the infractions, all three drivers will benefit from the flexibility that comes with a pit-lane start — including the ability to make further changes to the car’s setup, such as switching to a high-downforce or wet-weather configuration should race-day conditions prove unstable.
The strategic choice to accept a pit-lane start also allows the teams to optimize performance in what is expected to be an unpredictable and potentially wet Belgian Grand Prix. Given Spa-Francorchamps’ notorious microclimate and the likelihood of variable weather across the race weekend, these setup liberties could prove advantageous for Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Kimi Antonelli as they aim to recover positions during the race.
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