McLaren to start at rear in Belgian GP after multiple penalties

Formula 1 team McLaren on Friday changed the engines and associated elements on driver Fernando Alonso's and Jenson Button's cars, incurring a combined 55-place grid penalty for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

The changes made at Spa Francorchamps circuit on Friday's practice session meant Alonso and Button are now on to their seventh engine of the season, two more than the regulations permit for new engine manufacturers.

Both drivers have also taken on new turbochargers for their cars, all in excess of the number allowed by the rules.

The resulting, multiple grid penalties - a 30-place drop in total for Alonso, and 25 for Button - mean they are certain to fall to the back of the starting order of Sunday's Belgian GP.