Horner explains 'strategic' Verstappen penalty
Horner explains 'strategic' Verstappen penalty
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has explained why the Belgian Grand Prix was viewed as the ideal opportunity for Max Verstappen to suffer a back-of-the-grid penalty.
Verstappen is one of six drivers to have been ordered to start Sunday's race from the rear after fresh power unit and gearbox components were fitted to his RB18, so exceeding the prescribed number of parts for the season.
Esteban Ocon, Lando Norris, Valtteri Bottas, title rival Charles Leclerc and Mick Schumacher are also on the list, with the sextet facing a fight in qualifying over the back rows.
Explaining why the Belgian Grand Prix is viewed as the time to take a hit, Horner told Sky Sports F1: "You look strategically at the calendar and we felt it was particularly tight to get to the end of the year with the engine allocation that we have, so you then look at the circuits coming up.
"Zandvoort - you don't want to take it there; Monza is actually harder to overtake at than you'd think; you don't want to take it at Singapore, and Japan's pretty tricky to overtake.
"So, you start running out of options, and this is a good track to overtake at and we feel we should be quick here, hence why we've decided to take the opportunity here.
"Here, it's probably the smallest overtaking delta needed of the season. Here and Bahrain are probably two of the easiest circuits on the calendar to actually make an overtake.
"So that is probably why so many people have nominated this circuit to take that penalty to try to get engines in the pool for the rest of the year."
A Belgian Grand Prix of two halves
Speaking after Verstappen topped second practice from Leclerc, Horner remarked that Sunday could see a split field.
In one group will be the Friday pacesetters, Verstappen, Leclerc and Norris, while Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez and the two Mercedes drivers will be in a separate race at the front.
Although this could reduce Verstappen's potential points score, it would affect Leclerc similarly, but in the case of the Ferrari driver, he needs a strong haul to close the 80-point gap to his Red Bull rival.
"It looks like Carlos might not be taking a penalty, the Mercedes obviously are potentially not either, so it's going to make two races, which is going to be fascinating," added Horner.
"You're going to see potentially those guys battling it out at the front and we'll be seeing how quickly Max and Charles can make their way through the pack.
"At a circuit like this where you can overtake, it will be a fascinating race."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Hamilton fired serious warning by Wolff as F1 star takes aim at controversial FIA decision - GPFans F1 Recap
- 3 hours ago
F1's quirkiest star begins selling ICE CREAM in latest venture
- Yesterday 22:57
F1 colleagues UNFOLLOW each other as internal drama cranks up
- Yesterday 21:57
Hamilton 'emotional burden' heading into 2024 season revealed
- Yesterday 21:12
Marko DIRECTLY addresses Verstappen quit rumours
- Yesterday 20:27
Vettel CONFIRMS F1 comeback and reveals what's holding it up
- Yesterday 19:42
- 1
F1 Race Calendar
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
Carlos Sainz
- GP JAPAN 5 - 7 Apr
- GP CHINA 19 - 21 Apr
- GP USA 3 - 6 May
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
- GP MONACO 24 - 26 May
Related news
Legendary F1 circuit could be ditched due to spiralling costs
F1 confirms renewal of KEY race contract until 2025
Brundle names the ONE F1 driver operating well above expectations
F1 legend slams UNFAIR FIA proposal after 'deceiving fans'
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860