Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen is set to endure a 10-place grid penalty at the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix for exceeding the allowable number of engine components, according to Sky Sports. This penalty comes as a result of adding a fourth Honda power unit to his car, surpassing the FIA’s limit of three power units per driver per season.
The three-time champion’s penalty stems from ongoing engine challenges, notably a power unit failure during the Canadian Grand Prix in June. In response, the Austrian team opted to introduce a new power unit, inadvertently crossing the season’s permitted allocation. Sky Sports reports that Red Bull has strategically elected the Spa-Francorchamps circuit for this grid penalty due to its favorable overtaking opportunities, potentially diminishing the impact on Verstappen’s performance.
The current 2024 Drivers’ Championship leader, Verstappen holds a substantial 76-point lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris. Despite his dominance, Verstappen has not claimed victory in the last three races leading up to the Belgian Grand Prix. His track record at Spa, however, is impressive, with victories in both 2022 and 2023 under challenging conditions.
Sky Sports’ Craig Slater provided insights into the situation, commenting:
“We have heard nothing officially from the team but I have spoken to individuals with a window on this situation.
“It is a particularly stiff test at the moment. He sounded embattled and frustrated on the team radio in the last race at Hungary and that is because other cars are the Red Bull’s match at the moment.
“A couple of years ago Max came all the way through the field from outside the top 10 and last year took a five-placed grid penalty and came through to win from sixth, but it is surely a much more difficult prospect for him this year to come in and win.
“Does he face losing more of that cushion he has to Norris at the top of the drivers’ standings?”
In terms of vehicle adjustments, Slater noted:
“Red Bull will revert to a previous spec of car, aerodynamically at least – the set-up up at the Hungarian Grand Prix was particularly to deal with the twists and turns of that circuit.
“It is an efficient car, the Red Bull, at high speed on straight-line circuits like Spa so maybe they think there is still enough performance to come through the field.”
The Belgian Gran Prix is set to take place this coming weekend at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
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