Valtteri Bottas blunder costs Red Bull another power unit

Perez, Red Bull, Hungary — Photo: © LAT Images

Hungarian Grand Prix

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Bottas blunder costs Red Bull another power unit

Red Bull faces grid penalties if a fourth power unit is required

Ian Parkes & Sam Hall

Wednesday 4 August 2021 09:29

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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has confirmed another engine has been lost following the lap one carnage at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Red Bull has headed into F1's summer break licking its wounds after two damaging races at Silverstone and the Hungaroring, and counting the cost due to power unit damage.

Before the race, supplier Honda changed the system for the third and final time as allowed under the regulations in Max Verstappen's car after a crack was discovered post-qualifying following the Dutch driver's 51g crash during the British Grand Prix.

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Although the unit has returned to the Honda factory in Sakura to see if repairs can be carried out, it remains to be seen if it will be returned to the pool.

Red Bull face a similar story with Sergio Perez as it will likely have to use a third PU at the next race in Belgium following damage sustained from the crash in Hungary.

"We've lost another engine with Sergio," confirmed Horner, whose team now trails Mercedes in the drivers' and constructors' standings following dramatic points swings over the last two races.

It means both Verstappen and Perez face the prospect of penalties over the second half of the season should the fourth of any of the power unit elements need to be used.

Horner hails Red Bull mechanics

Verstappen at least managed to collect two points from ninth place following Sebastian Vettel's disqualification due to a fuel irregularity with his Aston Martin.

That was despite considerable damage to the Dutch driver's RB16B.

"I have to say the mechanics worked wonders to get that car running again, just to get some of the pipes straightened on it for the fluids was an incredible response," remarked Horner.

"So hugely frustrating, and obviously, again brutal under the cost cap, which affirms that when you have an incident that isn't yours, we're paying a significant price for that.

"That's something that isn't budgeted for and is something that does need to be looked at in greater detail by the FIA."

Bottas penalty effect minimal

After an investigation, the stewards declared Bottas was "fully to blame" for the accident that ended his own race and that of Perez and McLaren's Lando Norris.

Asked for comment on the five-place grid penalty handed to the Finn that will be served at the next race in Belgium, Horner said: "The penalty is what it is.

"Unfortunately, if it was a track like this one [the Hungaroring] it is obviously a bit more consequential.

“[At] a track like Spa, I think he will be back in position by the end of the second lap.”