Engine changes put Sainz and Vandoorne at the back of the grid

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Carlos Sainz and Stoffel Vandoorne will start alongside each other on the last row of Sunday's Belgian GP grid following power unit changes for both drivers.

Taking on a new engine won't demote the McLaren driver by much as his performance in qualifying had left him last in the session.

Renault's Sainz was destined to line up P16 on the grid following a disappointing Saturday afternoon. The Spaniard admitted to have been puzzled by the behavior of his R.S.18, revealing that his car felt completely different than it had during the free practice sessions.

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Ultimately, Renault has decided to change Sainz's engine, and lining him up with team mate Nico Hulkenberg who also endured a flurry of engine component changes before the weekend got underway.

The fourth man to suffer a demotion on today's grid is Valtteri Bottas, with Mercedes deciding earlier this week to allocate a new-spec engine to the Finn, putting the Silver Arrows driver beyond the authorized engine limit, hence the grid penalty.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.