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Verstappen hears nothing from Honda: 'not looking great'
Max Verstappen has still not received good news from Japan. His engine that broke down in Canada is still not back in Milton Keynes. This is likely to result in a grid penalty later in the year for the three-time world champion.
Max Verstappen is leading the world championship, but not everything is going smoothly. In Spain, Red Bull Racing already introduced the fourth power unit for Verstappen, which puts him at the maximum number of engines you can use in a year without a grid penalty. So, with 14 Grands Prix to go, a grid penalty seems to be coming the Dutchman's way.
What about Verstappen's engine?
The problem in Montreal was particularly notable. Before the Canadian Grand Prix, Verstappen was given a new engine, but it was no longer usable after Friday due to a problem with the ERS (Energy Recovery System). The engine had to go back to Japan and for that weekend Verstappen got an old engine. The chances of using the engine from Canada again seem slim.
Indeed, when Verstappen was asked at the press conference if he had heard more from Honda, the Dutchman said the following: "No, not yet. At the time, it was not looking great. Not necessarily the engine itself but just the situation and I'm just waiting to see what comes out of it." Verstappen also didn't reveal where he may take his grid penalty. "I'm not going to tell you. Makes everyone smarter."