Lewis Hamilton during press conference ahead of Belgian Grand Prix
While Formula One leader Lewis Hamilton expects to swallow a severe grid penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend, Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg hopes to take advantage.
Hamilton won six of the past seven races to turn a 43-point deficit into a 19-point lead heading into the summer break.
But, after being hampered by mechanical woes during the early part of the season, the British driver has used up his five allotted engine component parts, including the turbo charger. That means he must take on new components, either here or at the Italian GP next weekend, leading to a grid penalty and demotion to the back of the grid.
“As far I am aware we will be taking the penalty here. I have no engines left,” Hamilton said on yesterday. “We already discussed engine penalties before and that will come into play, but I will do everything I can to minimize the damage.”
Mercedes has yet to confirm whether the penalty will be taken in Spa, where a win for Rosberg would give him 25 points and, depending on Hamilton’s result, even out the championship standings.
“Of course I’m aware of Lewis’ misfortune having to get the grid penalty, and that’s going to make the weekend less difficult for me because he’s my biggest rival,” Rosberg said. “It doesn’t change the pressure I would put myself under.”
Although starting from the back of the grid all but rules out the chance of a 50th career win for Hamilton in Spa, the nature of the track, one of the best for overtaking, gives him a better chance of points than he would get in Monza next week.
Hamilton started from the back in China and finished seventh. Two years ago in Hungary, he started from the back and finished third. But he thinks rivals Red Bull and Ferrari are faster than they were back then.
“It’s going to be harder than it was last year or the year before to climb through the field,” Hamilton said. “Honestly, I really don’t know how far I can get. I started last in Hungary a couple of years ago when the gaps were much bigger. Sunday is going to be a lot harder.” Jerome Pugmire, Spa-Francorchamps, AP
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