F1 News

Verstappen and Red Bull opt for penalty at Spa

Verstappen incurs grid penalty in Belgium: place at the back beckons

24 July at 10:15
Last update 24 July at 10:21
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  • Estéban den Toom

Max Verstappen will start the Belgian Grand Prix somewhere at the back of the field. The 10-spot grid penalty, which had been hanging over the Dutchman's head for a fairly long time, is now becoming a reality, as Red Bull is going to change the combustion engine in the Dutchman's RB20, GPblog has learned.

Verstappen and Red Bull redeem grid penalty

Of course, it had been coming for a while that Verstappen would get a grid penalty. Four combustion engines are allowed per season, and at number five the driver gets a grid penalty. Verstappen ran out of combustion engines fairly quickly, so it was more a question of when this grid penalty was going to be 'redeemed', in order to fit a new engine.

Spa-Francorchamps could be a handy circuit to cash in on this penalty, as overtaking at the circuit in the Ardennes is relatively easy. This makes it easier for Verstappen to drive from the backfield towards the top. This was also the case for Verstappen in 2022. Then he drove from place 14 to place one on Sunday. Although the competition would probably be stronger next weekend.