Breaking news
Formula 1 Italian GP
Verstappen unfazed by likely back-of-grid start at Monza
Max Verstappen is unfazed by the prospect of starting from the back of the grid in Monza if as expected his Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team changes his power unit.
Adam Cooper
Published: Sep 3, 2019, 8:20 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Honda introduced its Spec 4 engine on Friday at Spa in the Red Bull of Alex Albon and the Toro Rosso of Daniil Kvyat, the change sending both men to the back of the grid.
Albon subsequently switched back to an older unit for the rest of the weekend as Honda wanted to keep the new one in the pool and fresh for Monza - especially as Spa is regarded as a tough test for engines - while Kvyat raced his to seventh place, gathering useful data on its performance.
Although it has not been officially confirmed, Verstappen is scheduled to take the new spec for Monza, which will send him to the back as he has already reached the annual limit on all six PU elements.
Asked about the prospect of a change for Italy, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said: “Most likely. We’ll make that decision during the week. But most likely we’ll discuss with Honda and see what their thoughts are.
“I think it’s encouraging from what we saw on Friday, the data we got from Kvyat running the new engine, that progress is definitely being made and delivering what is expected.”
Lance Stroll, Racing Point RP19, battles with Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso STR14
Photo by: Jerry Andre / Sutton Images
Verstappen insists that even from the back he would be able to overtake the midfield and potentially finish behind the Ferrari and Mercedes cars.
“I think it can be alright to overtake,” he said when asked by Motorsport.com. “Nothing is confirmed yet about an engine penalty, but even if you start from the back I don’t think it’s a big deal.
“We all know Ferrari is going to be really quick there, and if you start from the back you probably won’t catch the top four. Everything behind that I think it’s possible to catch up with.”
Red Bull and Honda are keen to avoid taking penalties in Singapore and especially at Suzuka, the engine supplier’s home race, and as extra insurance for the latter the manufacturer could add more engines to the pool in Russia.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Vettel: No qualms about Belgian GP "roadblock" role
Next article Norris: Safety in racing "taken for granted" by drivers also
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Adam Cooper
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
More from
Max Verstappen
"Slippery as hell" – Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar explain the "extreme" challenge of Mexico
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
5 h
"Slippery as hell" – Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar explain the "extreme" challenge of Mexico
Max Verstappen jokes about Daniel Ricciardo's Le Mans ambition: "He's a smart man picking me!"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
22 h
Max Verstappen jokes about Daniel Ricciardo's Le Mans ambition: "He's a smart man picking me!"
More from
Red Bull Racing
Why F1's new regulations make the Mexican GP an even bigger challenge
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
11 h
Why F1's new regulations make the Mexican GP an even bigger challenge
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
Latest news
F1 Mexico GP: Charles Leclerc beats Kimi Antonelli to top FP1
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
F1 Mexico GP: Charles Leclerc beats Kimi Antonelli to top FP1
What Fernando Alonso is getting wrong about F1 driving standards
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
What Fernando Alonso is getting wrong about F1 driving standards
F1 Mexico GP: Follow FP1 with live timing
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
3 h
F1 Mexico GP: Follow FP1 with live timing
Sergio Perez to skip F1 Mexico GP fan forum due to illness
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
4 h
Sergio Perez to skip F1 Mexico GP fan forum due to illness
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe