20/08/2015
NEWS STORY
Whilst the more sceptical among you might twist the headline, suggesting that Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button need two engines in their cars, the truth of the matter is that the Woking team is preparing to take a gamble this weekend as Honda introduces its upgraded package.
Both drivers will likely have a brand new engine for Friday's sessions and then another for Saturday. The move will see both drivers start from the back of the grid, but this will not only allow the team the opportunity to test the upgraded power units, the penalty has less impact on the sweeping Ardennes tracks than the confines of Singapore.
"We are increasing our pool of engines that we can use in the next races, as we can only be punished once here," Eric Boullier told Auto Motor und Sport.
"You cannot start further back than the very back, so why not replace the engine twice?" he added. "We take the punishment on a track that will not hurt us as much as Singapore."
The move effectively gives the duo a 'free' engine - without fear of penalty - as the first change of power unit and parts would drop them to the back of the grid anyway. Furthermore, the rule which saw drivers hit with in-race penalties when the full grid penalty cannot be served has now been dropped.
"Starting where we are might not be such a bad thing," Button told reporters. "At Turn One you never really know what's going to happen. We could pick up four or five places."
Check out our Thursday gallery, here.