Lewis Hamilton has been handed a five-second time penalty for causing a collision with George Russell on the first lap of the Belgian Grand Prix.
The contact between the former team-mates — and F1 title rivals — sent the Mercedes driver, who was clipped by the seven-time drivers' champion's Ferrari at Les Combes, into retirement at just the fifth corner of the race at Spa-Francorchamps.
The stewards decided to take a look at the incident and have found the 41-year-old at fault, despite it being the first lap of the 44-lap contest in the Ardennes Forest.
It is a devastating blow for Russell; he trails Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who leads from pole, by 25 points in the standings.
Hamilton, who is seven points behind his compatriot in third, has sustained significant damage. He currently runs fourth, ahead of the McLaren of Oscar Piastri, and will take his punishment during his first pit stop.
The Australian had made his way past the 106-time grand prix winner, but contact with Charles Leclerc saw him drop back behind Hamilton.
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