Honda: Baku upgrade ‘slight improvement in performance’

Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly will race new engines at this weekend’s Azerbaijan GP with Honda introducing an upgrade aimed at “improved durability, life and better reliability”.

Earlier this month Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko revealed he was hoping that the team would receive a power boost in the coming races, saying it could be as much as “20 more horses”.

The Austrian added that he believed the upgrade would be available in Baku with Honda confirming they will introduce the updated engine at round four.

Honda’s technical director Toyoharu Tanabe said: “We will introduce the Spec 2 version of our internal combustion engine (ICE) across all four cars right from the start of the weekend.

“One of the reasons for bringing it to this race is that we found that Daniil Kvyat’s PU problem in China was down to a quality control issue.

“The main benefits of Spec 2 are improved durability and life and better reliability. It also offers a slight improvement in performance.”

The Spec 2 engine will be available to all four Red Bull and Toro Rosso drivers in Baku.

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