Verstappen hit with major grid penalty for Belgian GP

Max Verstappen has taken a major grid penalty for this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.

It was anticipated that at a circuit that affords overtaking opportunities, Red Bull would opt to change power unit components inside the three-time F1 champion's RB20.

The Milton-Keynes-based squad has fitted a new internal combustion engine (ICE) to his car, the fifth of the season, meaning he will drop 10 places on the starting grid.

Verstappen, however, has form at this track. Two years ago he was required to start from the back of the grid after incurring multiple penalties for power unit component changes.

That translated into a start from 14th on the grid as numerous other drivers also incurred similar penalties but started behind the 26-year-old after he set the fastest time in qualifying.

On a day when Verstappen's RB18 was thoroughly dominant, he went on to take the chequered flag by almost 18 seconds from team-mate Sergio Perez who had started from second.

RB's Yuki Tsunoda will also take a grid drop for the Belgian GP - however, his comes following a much bigger change.

Tsunoda has been fitted with brand-new components for every aspect of the power unit, resulting in a 60-place grid penalty.

Any penalty that exceeds 15 places is automatically transitioned to a back-of-the-grid start for the grand prix, which applies to Tsunoda.

Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon have also had new ICEs, turbochargers, MGU-Hs and MGU-Ks fitted to their cars, but as they do not exceed the season quota, they have not been penalised.