Belgian GP: Max Verstappen handed 10-place grid penalty

Belgium -- Max Verstappen faces a 10-place grid penalty from wherever he qualifies at the Belgian Grand Prix after he exceeded his quota for engines this season. A grid penalty was always likely for the Red Bull driver after he suffered a failure on a new engine during Friday practice at the Canadian Grand Prix. "I knew of course that it is coming," Verstappen said on Thursday when asked about the likelihood of a penalty. The amount of power unit components used by each driver per season is limited, with the quota for internal combustion engines set at four before incurring a penalty for using a fifth. Red Bull's decision to fit a fifth engine at Spa-Francorchamps is in part a tactical one as the circuit is one of the season's easier tracks to overtake on, giving Verstappen the best chance of coming back through the field.

Tough break for Verstappen with the grid penalty, but Spa's a great place to make a comeback! It’s all part of the strategy, and he's got the skills to navigate through the field. Can't wait to see how the race unfolds!