OFFICIAL: HAMILTON AND OCON TO START THE RACE FROM THE PIT LANE!
Lewis Hamilton and Esteban Ocon will start the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the pit lane.
Lewis Hamilton will have to start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the pit lane after receiving a penalty. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton had qualified in seventh position. However, Hamilton struggled with speed during the qualifying sessions, and his fastest lap in Q3 was about a second behind pole-sitter Charles Leclerc.
After the session, Mercedes changed the turbocharger, MGU-H, and MGU-K components in Hamilton’s car, making it the fifth engine of the season, one more than the allowed allocation. This penalty means he will start the race from the pit lane. With Lando Norris also being eliminated in Q1 and starting from the back, the grid in Baku will be significantly shaken up.
Hamilton won’t be the only driver starting from the pit lane. Esteban Ocon will also begin the race from the pit lane due to a power unit change. Ocon had been experiencing engine issues with his car throughout the weekend.
