Max Verstappen and Red Bull forced into Honda engine change after oil leak

Max Verstappen

Verstappen forced into engine change after oil leak

Not going to plan for Max.

Matthew Scott

Friday 10 May 2019 15:42

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Max Verstappen's Red Bull has undergone a change of Honda power unit after his running in FP1 at the Spanish Grand Prix was cut short by an oil leak. Red Bull's engine supplier insist that the change only represents a minor change in Verstappen's plan for the weekend in Barcelona.

Honda brought a new power unit to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last time out, expected to improve reliability.

Verstappen and Pierre Gasly had been refitted with the season's first power unit for Friday's running at the Circuit de Catalunya, before a planned switch to the second one for qualifying and the race.

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"We've now changed the PU on Max's car following the oil leak that occurred during FP1," said Honda F1 chief Toyoharu Tanabe.

Vettel, Leclerc and Ricciardo take new engines in SpainMore engine changes this weekend.Read more

"Both cars started FP1 with Spec 1 PUs with a plan of changing them for Spec 2 tonight, therefore Max's PU change has happened just one session earlier than planned.

"Pierre continues to use the spec 1 PU for FP2 and his PU will be switched to Spec 2 tonight, as per the original plan. Further investigation on the cause of the oil leak will now be carried out."

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