Daijiworld Media Network - Spa-Francorchamps

Spa-Francorchamps, Jul 16: McLaren driver Lando Norris will serve a 10-place grid penalty at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix after the team opted to install a new power electronics unit in his car to address ongoing reliability concerns.

The decision comes amid criticism over the reliability of Mercedes power units, with several customer teams, including McLaren, experiencing technical issues in recent races.

Norris has encountered multiple power unit-related setbacks this season, including a failure to start the Chinese Grand Prix, followed by further problems in Japan and Monaco.

Under Formula One regulations, drivers receive a grid penalty if they exceed the permitted allocation of power unit components. McLaren believes the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, known for its overtaking opportunities, is the most suitable venue to absorb the penalty.

In a statement, McLaren said it would fit car No. 1 with a fourth power electronics unit, exceeding the permitted allocation.

"McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team will fit car Number 1 with a fourth power electronics [unit] this weekend in Spa, exceeding our permitted number of allocated power electronics units and incurring a 10-place grid penalty," the team said.

The team explained that Norris' first power electronics unit suffered a terminal failure in China, preventing him from starting the race.

His second unit, introduced in Japan, developed problems during free practice and was withdrawn for repairs. Although it was repaired after the Japanese Grand Prix, it suffered another terminal failure during the second practice session in Monaco and had to be removed permanently from the allocation.

McLaren said the third power electronics unit has operated reliably since the Miami Grand Prix. However, Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains has since introduced upgraded components with improved reliability.

"While the power electronics unit we installed in Japan, and have used in every session since Miami, has worked reliably, Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains has since introduced a series of reliability fixes to their new power electronics systems.

"However, in order to take advantage of these improvements, we must incur a 10-place grid penalty on Lando's car in order to take a new unit.

"We have chosen to do this in Belgium, a circuit where overtaking is relatively more prevalent, as opposed to the following two events in Hungary and Zandvoort.

"We now plan to use this fourth power electronics unit for the remainder of the season, in order to maximise reliability while minimising sporting penalties on Lando," the statement added.

McLaren's recent upgrades have helped Norris recover ground in the Formula One Drivers' Championship, where he currently occupies fifth place with 97 points. The team hopes the improved power unit and continued development will strengthen its challenge against rivals Mercedes and Ferrari during the remainder of the season.