Red Bull not expecting penalty after practice setback

  • Published on 26 Oct 2018 23:09
  • comments 0
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Red Bull is not expecting to take a penalty for Sunday's Mexico Grand Prix following Max Verstappen's power shutdown during free practice two. The Dutchman's power unit suffered a complete failure when it suddenly turned off towards the end of the afternoon session.

Verstappen was the pace-setter in both Friday practice sessions, with both Ferraris and Mercedes well over a second behind. Verstappen's closest competitor appears to be teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who shadowed the 20-year-old in both sessions.

But Verstappen is not worried about a potential penalty coming his way: "At the moment we are not worried, we think it was a hydraulic failure," he said. "I don't know what it is exactly, as the car is still over there [on the other side of the track]."

Red Bull team boss confirmed that the issue was hydraulic related. Verstappen took on a new penalty in Russia and has an engine available to fit in penalty-free should it come to that.

"It's a hydraulic issue of some sort, so we need to get the car back to find out what's caused it and if it is an engine change then he has still got one in his pool and he should be alright," Horner said. "But first we need to get the car back to understand it."

Speaking about why Red Bull has such an advantage over its rivals, Horner said: "I think what's happened here is this high altitude tends to even things out a bit and the engines, the brakes etc. are struggling for air, everything is struggling for air mass.

"We are running the same wing as Monaco here and we have the same downforce as Monza. I think we are able to run the car in its optimum state and we have a power unit that looks competitive relative to the others."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 02:46

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 02:46

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 3,189
  • Podiums 117
  • Grand Prix 221
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (27)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar