Verstappen confident of avoiding PU "pain" again this season

Max Verstappen is confident he will be able to see out the remainder of his F1 title challenge without the need for another power unit this season.

The Red Bull driver was handed his fourth PU of the year for the Russian Grand Prix, taking a penalty that pushed him to the back of the grid from where he conjured a fine second place to limit the damage to race-winner Lewis Hamilton.

It is understood Verstappen still has three PUs in his pool, albeit with the fresh one offset by two much older high-mileage systems.

Asked about his confidence in avoiding another penalty, Verstappen replied: "We'll be fine with this engine to the end."

Verstappen has confirmed to being involved in discussions with the rest of the team as to the ideal track to take the fourth PU that was fitted in Russia.

He added: "We talked about it a little bit. With the weather conditions and everything, and then also with the laps we did, it was the right decision.

"We knew anyway we had to take one - take the pain once and look for a good result in the race."

Verstappen claims the Sochi Autodrom, a circuit where he finished fifth in 2018 after starting 19th, was the only viable choice for Red Bull.

As to whether any other track was under consideration, he said: "No. We just looked at the circumstances.

"Let's say, if we would have been really quick here [in Sochi] you wouldn't have taken it and maybe taken it at another track but we didn't get that far."

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