Revealed: Why Lewis Hamilton will have to start from the PIT LANE in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in huge blow to Mercedes’ hopes in Baku

  • Lewis Hamilton will start from the pit lane in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
  • The seven-time champion originally qualified seventh for the race on Saturday
  • He will be joined by Alpine driver Esteban Ocon, who also starts from the pits

Lewis Hamilton will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the pit lane after Mercedes fitted a new engine ahead of the race.

The seven-time world champion qualified seventh on Saturday but the FIA confirmed that Hamilton has been given his fifth engine of the season – exceeding the allotted four.

Mercedes have also made changes to the suspension of Hamilton’s car and he will be joined in the pit lane by Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, who has also been given a new engine.

Hamilton’s grid penalty promotes title hopeful Lando Norris to 15th. 

The McLaren driver was eliminated from the first part of qualifying on Saturday, blaming yellow flags on the exit of the final turn for him being unable to post a fast enough time. 

Lewis Hamilton will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the pit lane

The seven-time champion was set to begin the race in seventh but got demoted to the pit lane after an engine change

The seven-time champion was set to begin the race in seventh but got demoted to the pit lane after an engine change

He will be joined by Alpine's Esteban Ocon in the pit lane, as his car also had a engine change

He will be joined by Alpine’s Esteban Ocon in the pit lane, as his car also had a engine change 

He qualified 17th but will start 15th after Pierre Gasly was disqualified from qualifying with his car found to have breached FIA technical regulations.

Norris will be bidding to limit the damage in his pursuit of Max Verstappen. 

He trails the three-time world champion by 62 points having cut the Dutchman’s lead by 16 points across the last two races.

Verstappen qualified sixth with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who is 86 points adrift of the Red Bull driver in the championship standings, on pole position.

The race begins at 3pm local time (12pm BST).

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk