Max Verstappen confirms Red Bull will not handicap him with Monza engine change

Max Verstappen chats with Christian Horner — Photo: © LAT Images

Italian Grand Prix

Verstappen confirms Red Bull will not handicap him with Monza engine change

Sergio Perez took a fourth system at Zandvoort

Ian Parkes & Sam Hall

Thursday 9 September 2021 18:09

Max Verstappen has explained Red Bull does not plan to use the Italian Grand Prix to introduce a fourth power unit due to the sprint increasing the potential for points lost.

Due to damage sustained in his British Grand Prix crash after his collision with Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen will require a fourth power unit in order to complete the season although such a change would incur a grid penalty.

With points on offer in Saturday's sprint and just a three-point championship lead, Verstappen conceded: “We haven’t really decided yet where to take it.

"This engine is still very new so it’s definitely not the plan to take it here."

Should Red Bull elect to introduce its fourth PU this weekend, the decision could influence Mercedes to follow suit after Hamilton suffered a suspected problem at Zandvoort.

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On Wednesday, a Mercedes spokesperson suggest it would be "foolish" for Mercedes to pass up the opportunity should it present itself.

Verstappen reflects on Dutch GP "relief"

Last weekend's Dutch Grand Prix saw Verstappen's 'orange army' of fans descend on Zandvoort in spectacular fashion.

Although appearing at ease across the weekend, the Dutchman revealed it came as a "relief" to cross the line at the end of the 72-lap race.

“I think it is always difficult to surpass that emotion of your first win but it was very high up," added Verstappen.

“It was more because all the fans expected me to win so anything less than first would have been a disappointment.

“To then make it happen, I know is incredibly tough because the whole season has been neck and neck between ourselves and Mercedes.

"And then to do basically more or less everything perfect with pole and the race win, I was in a way also just relieved once I passed the line.

“I was like ‘Okay, that is now done’. It was an incredible weekend but you cannot have too many of them in a year but the amount of support I had was really nice to see.

“Also, just in general, to see so many people back at a grand prix was very important but, of course, for the whole of Holland and motorsport in Holland, it was I think a very important race.”