SPA: World champion Lewis Hamilton faces starting the second half of the Formula One season on the backfoot after his Mercedes team confirmed it is &ldquo;likely&rdquo; he will suffer a grid penalty for Sunday&rsquo;s Belgian Grand Prix.
<img title="Lewis Hamilton" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/aug/25-Lewis-Hamilton.jpg" alt="Lewis Hamilton" /> Lewis Hamilton
The penalty, which would see Hamilton demoted at least 10 places on the grid, has been looming over the British driver after he encountered a number of engine problems during the opening rounds of the season.
And the punishment could yet be even greater with additional changes to parts on Hamilton&rsquo;s engine meaning he could start as far back as last this weekend.
Weighing up penalty Mercedes had been weighing up whether to take the penalty in Belgium or at next Sunday&rsquo;s Italian Grand Prix with both circuits expected to offer Hamilton the best chance of fighting back through the field.
But it now appears as though Hamilton will take the penalty in the sport&rsquo;s first race back from its four-week summer shutdown.
&ldquo;(An engine penalty) is likely and confirmation is expected today (Thursday),&rdquo; Mercedes said.
The world champion heads to Belgium 19 points ahead of his Mercedes teammate after a miraculous turnaround in which he won six of the last seven Grand Prix&rsquo;s heading into the break.

World champion Lewis Hamilton faces starting the second half of the Formula One season on the backfoot after his Mercedes team confirmed it is &ldquo;likely&rdquo; he will suffer a grid penalty for Sunday&rsquo;s Belgian Grand Prix.

F1: Lewis Hamilton to start Belgian GP with grid penalty

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F1: Lewis Hamilton to start Belgian GP with grid penalty

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