Lewis Hamilton is set to start Sunday's Italian Grand Prix from the back of the grid as the result of an engine change penalty on his Mercedes. The seven-time World Champion is to take on his fourth power unit of 2022 at Monza, with his third engine having been damaged in a Lap 1 clash with Fernando Alonso at the Belgian Grand Prix two races ago (main picture). As Hamilton's W13 came back down to earth after having been vaulted into the air by Alonso's front wheel, the Mercedes' power unit took an impact of 45G and lost fluids, with Hamilton being forced to retire from the race before Lap 1 was out. F1 drivers are limited to three power units for the season, and with Hamilton's Spa engine now out of action, the Briton is facing a back-of-the-grid start at Monza.
Overtaking opportunities at Monza
Hamilton can console himself with the knowledge that the high-speed Monza circuit should present him with plenty of opportunities to make up places during the 53-lap race. During the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, Hamilton's then-teammate Valtteri Bottas salvaged third place despite starting 19th, after he too had been penalised for excessive component usage. Now driving for Alfa Romeo, Bottas is also set for a grid penalty this year at Monza, after taking on several new components following his retirement from last weekend's Dutch Grand Prix. It is thought that Red Bull may choose to use this weekend to install a fourth power unit of 2022 into Sergio Perez's car, with the forthcoming Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix not as likely to facilitate easy overtaking as Monza.
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