Antonelli closing on grid drop as Verstappen backs Red Bull's 'wise' Spa call

Kimi Antonelli is edging closer to a Formula 1 grid penalty after Mercedes fitted a fourth power unit to his W17, forcing the team to investigate a potential underlying reliability issue. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has publicly supported Red Bull's decision to abandon its rotating rear wing for the Belgian Grand Prix, calling it the "wisest" call following two separate incidents at Silverstone that he labeled "super dangerous." The Spa-Francorchamps weekend also saw Pierre Gasly bring a premature end to second practice with a heavy crash, while Williams boss James Vowles revealed that significant aerodynamic regulation changes are already on the drawing board for the 2027 season.

Why it matters:

The opening day at Spa has already delivered major strategic and reliability headaches up and down the paddock. Antonelli's looming penalty threatens to derail the rookie's momentum at a crucial point in the campaign, while Red Bull's swift U-turn on a controversial rear-wing concept underscores the delicate balance teams must strike between innovation and driver safety. Off the track, Vowles' early warning about the 2027 rules gives design teams a long-term benchmark to prepare for, and David Coulthard's reported move into Alex Albon's management structure signals a notable shift in the driver representation landscape.

The details:

• Antonelli's Power Unit Woes: Mercedes has fitted a fourth power unit to Antonelli's car, placing the Italian rookie on the brink of a grid drop. The Brackley squad is actively investigating the root cause to determine if a fundamental reliability issue is at play.
• Verstappen's Safety Concerns: Red Bull shelved its rotating rear wing concept ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix after Verstappen experienced two separate problems at Silverstone. He praised the team's decision to park the device as the "wisest" choice, having previously called it "super dangerous."
• Gasly's FP2 Crash: Alpine's Pierre Gasly suffered a heavy impact that brought out the red flags for a second time during Friday's second practice session, cutting short valuable track time for the field.
• Norris's Strategic Gambit: Lando Norris hinted that McLaren could deploy a grid-penalty strategy trick—taking fresh components and accepting a rear-of-grid start—to salvage his Spa weekend, a tactic increasingly seen across the paddock.
• Coulthard Joins Albon's Camp: Thirteen-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard is set to join Alex Albon's management structure, adding heavyweight experience to the Williams driver's off-track team.
• 2027 Rule Shake-Up: Williams team principal James Vowles confirmed that "fairly significant" aerodynamic regulation changes are planned for the 2027 season, giving design offices a major future benchmark to prepare for.

What's next:

All eyes now turn to Saturday's qualifying session at Spa, where Antonelli's power unit fate could be sealed and Norris's strategic plans may become clearer. Red Bull will be keen to prove that its conservative wing decision pays dividends on the timing screens, while Alpine will need to assess the damage to Gasly's chassis overnight. With 2027 regulatory clouds already gathering, the long-term development war is quietly beginning even as the 2026 title fight intensifies.