Horner now provides clarity: 'Penalty for Verstappen is inevitable'

F1 News

horner adamant: verstappen must take a grid penalty soon
10 July at 12:00
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  • Ludo van Denderen

For Sergio Perez, it was a stroke of luck. The driver had to start the British Grand Prix from the backfield after a dramatic qualifying session anyway, which made taking an engine penalty less of a punishment. That way, the Red Bull Racing Mexican was less affected by the associated penalty for exceeding the number of power units allowed in an F1 season.

Perez currently has five engines in his pool, Max Verstappen has already received a new power unit in his RB20 four times. One already broke down on the very first day - during the Friday of the Canadian Grand Prix. At the time, Horner already made it known that it was very likely that Verstappen would have to get a fifth power unit as a result sometime during the season and would incur a grid penalty of 10 spots as a result.

When will Verstappen collect his grid penalty?

Meanwhile, following investigations at Honda in Japan, it is clear that the power unit is beyond repair. As a result, Horner is now a lot more adamant: "I'm sure at some point we'll end up taking an extra engine for Max. It's just a question of when you choose strategically to do that. So we'll work with Honda on that but inevitably we will take a penalty at some point in the year," said the Red Bull Racing team boss.

Last season, too, Verstappen went over the limit of four power units. Then, at the Belgian Grand Prix, the Dutchman decided to take the fifth engine, resulting in a grid penalty. Despite this, Verstappen managed to win that race, such was the supremacy during that season.