This weekend, Formula One returned, with with the fan favourite Belgian Grand Prix. A number of teams brought in upgrades after the well-deserved summer break. However, that also meant that some drivers were forced to use newer power unit elements. Since the new power units were fitted out of sequence, some penalties had to be applied. As many as six drivers were slapped with grid penalties, which would definitely shake up the grid order.

Mercedes, Renault and Honda were the only ones to bring updated power units, while Ferrari elected to play the waiting game.

Mercedes’ refined power unit has been strapped to its factory cars and the Racing Point and Williams teams.

Unfortunately, Lance Stroll will be penalised as he had already taken a new engine in Canada, when he suffered a failure during practice. Meanwhile, teammate Sergio Perez escaped a penalty in spite of a fiery engine in FP2 on Friday. This was because, the Mexican went back to a Spec 2 engine for the Belgian Grand Prix, so he will remain in the top 10.

Stroll is set to drop to the back of the grid, where he will be joined by Red Bull’s Alexander Albon and Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat, who have taken on Honda’s Spec 4 engine.

Renault, meanwhile, has brought its C-Spec ICE, which has been fitted to both factory cars and the McLaren of Carlos Sainz Jr. So, the three Renault-powered drivers will take a five-place drop from wherever they qualify.

In qualifying, Robert Kubica and Antonio Giovinazzi also suffered blown engines, with bth taking place in Q1. Fortunately, it does not seem like either driver will be penalised, as they have possibly switched to older power units.

So, with all the penalties applied, the Top 5 remains the same, but Kimi Raikkonen will join Max Verstappen on the third row. Perez, Kevin Magnussen, Romain Grosjean and Daniel Ricciardo complete the top 10. Lando Norris, Nico Hulkenberg, Giovinazzi, Pierre Gasly, George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Stroll, Alex Albon, Daniil Kvyat and Robert Kubica complete the pack.