Verstappen takes new Honda power unit as consequence of Silverstone crash

Ian Parkes
Sunday 1 August 2021 10:43 - Updated: 11:07

Max Verstappen will take his third and final power unit of the F1 season for today's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Red Bull power unit supplier Honda has confirmed discovering an issue with the system in post-qualifying checks, believing it to be as a consequence of his crash during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Honda tests on the unit immediately after the 51g incident discovered no problems, with further confidence gained following its use in Friday practice,

The Japanese manufacturer believed the system would last through the weekend, but has now been left with no choice but to make a change, without penalty.

The specific elements replaced are the internal combustion engine, turbocharger, MGU-H and MGU-K, as well as a new exhaust.

A Honda statement read: “During post-qualifying checks we noticed something on Max’s PU which might have developed over the course of the weekend, likely to be an after-effect of the Silverstone crash.

“We have therefore changed it for a new PU of the same specification. According to the regulations, Max is allowed to start from his third position on the grid with no penalty incurred.”

The problem for Red Bull and Verstappen is that the new system is highly unlikely to last over the course of the season half of the season.

It means at some stage Verstappen will be forced to take grid penalties when a fourth PU is required, which will have major ramifications on the Dutch driver's F1 title fight with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.