Mercedes take fresh engine, prompt grid penalties

Valtteri Bottas is set to start the Belgian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after taking a new Mercedes power unit at Spa-Francorchamps. Lewis Hamilton has also taken on fresh components, but they are within his permitted limit for the season, so the Formula 1 championship leader's weekend will not be affected.

Renault's Nico Hulkenberg is set to join Bottas on the back row of the grid, as he has also taken on a fresh power unit in Spa - typically a scene of engine penalties in recent years as overtaking is easier on the seven-kilometre long circuit.

Williams and Force India will also be given new, upgraded power units by Mercedes, although it will not cause grid penalties for any of their drivers.

NEWS: @LewisHamilton has a new Turbocharger, ICE and MGU-H - his third of the season. @ValtteriBottas has a completely new Power Unit this weekend - with six fresh elements.

As this goes beyond his season allocation he will take a grid penalty for the #BelgianGP. pic.twitter.com/s1Bu7gnQ62 — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) August 24, 2018

Bottas was facing penalties at some point in the second part of the season after a hydraulic failure in the Austrian Grand Prix caused that power unit to overheat.

Hamilton will take on a new internal combustion engine, turbo charger and MGU-H.

His title rival Sebastian Vettel will reportedly also take on a fresh power unit, adding a layer of intrigue to an already thrilling title race as attention turns to whether Ferrari or Mercedes have eked the most out of their new parts.