Verstappen/Albon handed new power units

Jamie Woodhouse
Max Verstappen Red Bull

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Honda has confirmed that both Max Verstappen and Alex Albon will be given new power units for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.

Teams are not allowed to bring any upgrades or new developments for their power units this season due to the agreed freeze to safeguard finances for teams as a result of the pandemic.

Albon already took a new energy store and control electronics for his Honda power unit at the British Grand Prix last weekend, and for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix he will take a second engine, turbocharger, MGU-H and MGU-K.

His team-mate Verstappen will have a totally new PU for the race weekend, with Honda confirming the news ahead of Free Practice 1.

“As part of our PU strategy for the season, we are introducing new power units for the two Red Bull Racing drivers at this event,” Honda said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.

“This gives us greater flexibility in terms of power unit management. The new power units are the same specification as the ones coming out.”

Verstappen was the fastest non-Mercedes driver in FP1, but still was over seven tenths down on Valtteri Bottas who topped the session for the Silver Arrows.

So with the gap already so extreme after FP1, it is understandable that Verstappen talked down Red Bull’s chances of battling Mercedes this weekend.

“I think they’re so far ahead that temperatures are not going to give you that extra second in qualifying, and what is it, half a second in the race or something?” he said in reference to the scorching temperatures at Silverstone.

“I don’t think so. But like I said, we don’t give up. I’m very motivated to do a good job again this weekend, and try to be on that podium again and see what happens.

“Last weekend was very unexpected with these tyre blow-outs. I just need to be there to grab my chance.”

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Neither Verstappen or Albon will take a grid penalty, but are now on the newly-reduced limit for this season after taking their second permitted parts.

Daniel Ricciardo also has a new engine, turbocharger, MGU-K and MGU-H in his Renault engine for this weekend, whilst Racing Point’s Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenberg, Williams’ George Russell and Nicholas Latifi, and Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes have taken a new MGU-K for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.

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