Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will be handed a 10-place grid penalty at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix after exceeding the maximum engine limit. The Dutchman has won the last two races at Spa after grid penalties; Watch the Belgian Grand Prix live on Sky Sports from Friday to Sunday
13:57, United Kingdom, Friday 26 July 2024
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will receive a 10-place grid penalty at Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix after exceeding the engine limit.
As expected and as reported earlier this week, Red Bull have decided to impose what they recently admitted is an “inevitable” penalty on their world championship leader at Spa-Francorchamps this week.
The Dutchman’s car was fitted with his fifth internal combustion unit of the season – one more than is allowed under the regulations without penalty – ahead of Friday’s first practice, which will automatically drop him 10 places on the grid for Sunday’s race.
This means that Verstappen will not start the Grand Prix higher than eleventh.
The current world champion was on the verge of a grid penalty since losing his power unit during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend in June.
Karun Chandhok delves into Verstappen’s frustration during the Hungarian Grand Prix and whether his anger was justified
Verstappen – who leads McLaren’s Lando Norris by 76 points in the 2024 drivers’ championship despite not winning any of the last three races – will now be penalised in Belgium for the third year in a row.
He won the race from 14th in 2022 and then triumphed in 2023 after starting from sixth.
Report on expected engine penalty on Wednesday, Sky Sports News “It’s a particularly tough test at the moment,” said Craig Slater. “He sounded nervous and frustrated on the team radio at the last race in Hungary because the other cars are now a match for Red Bull.
“Two years ago Max managed to finish from outside the top 10, last year he had a five-place grid penalty but managed to win from sixth, but this year it’s definitely been a tougher race for him to win.
Verstappen expressed his frustration on Red Bull team radio after failing to secure a podium finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Is he in danger of losing more of his lead over Norris at the top of the drivers’ standings?
“It’s a potent car, a Red Bull car, it’s got high speeds on straights like Spa, so maybe they think it still has enough performance to get ahead of the field.”
Verstappen expressed his frustration on Red Bull team radio after failing to secure a podium finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Sky Sports F1 Belgian Grand Prix Live Stream Schedule
Friday, July 26
8.50am: F3 workout
10am: F2 workout
12pm: First round of free practice for the Belgian Grand Prix (round starts at 12.30pm)
2pm: Formula 3 Qualifying
2.55pm: Formula 2 Qualifying
3.45pm: Belgian Grand Prix Free Practice 2 (Session starts at 4pm)
5:15pm: Formula 1 Show
Saturday, July 27
8:45am: F3 Race
11.15 am: Belgian Grand Prix Free Practice Round 3 (Session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 race
2.15pm: Preparations for qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix
3pm: Qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix
5pm: TEDx Workbook
Sunday, July 28
7:25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: Formula 2 Special Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup
12:30pm: Sunday Grand Prix – Preparations for the Belgian Grand Prix*
2pm: Belgian Grand Prix*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Reactions to the Belgian Grand Prix
5pm: TED Notes
*As broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event
The action continues this week with the last race before the Formula 1 summer break, the Belgian Grand Prix. You can watch every session of the Spa-Francorchamps race live on Sky Sports F1.
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