Max Verstappen crash: Red Bull confirm status of gearbox, potential penalty after Austria incident

Max Verstappen

Red Bull confirm status of Verstappen gearbox, potential penalty after Austria crash

Will he take a penalty?

Matthew Scott

Friday 28 June 2019 17:24 Updated: 17:43

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Red Bull are confident that Max Verstappen will not be hit with grid penalties related to a gearbox change after he wrecked the rear-end of his RB15 in a crash during FP2 at the Austrian GP.

Verstappen lost control of his car into Turn 10 of the Red Bull Ring and spun hard into the barriers, sustaining significant damage.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner confirmed that Verstappen's 'race' gearbox was not fitted during practice – which is commonplace among teams.

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As such he will be able to fit the gearbox he has used in recent races and avoid incurring a grid penalty.

Speaking to Sky Sports shortly after the incident, Horner confirmed that tricky conditions in Spielberg had played their part.

"For sure the wind was a factor, I think he got up on the kerb as well so it's a combination of factors," he said.

"It's frustrating but were still getting good data from Pierre Gasly."

Quizzed on the gearbox, Horner explained: "It's a Friday box so it won't affect him for the rest of the weekend hopefully."

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