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Max Verstappen and Red Bull looking to be “strong at Suzuka” with Russia penalty

Max Verstappen and Red Bull looking to be “strong at Suzuka” with Russia penalty

27-09-2019 08:48

Bevan Youl

Max Verstappen has said that Red Bull and Honda are looking to be “strong at Suzuka” after all of the Japanese engine powered cars have taken penalties with new engine ahead of the Russian Grand Prix.

The new Spec 4 engines from Honda have been fitted across the Red Bull and Toro Rosso cars, giving Verstappen, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly five-place grid penalties while Daniil Kvyat will most likely start from the back as other elements on his power unit have been changed.
 
“We thought ‘Why not do it here?'” Verstappen said at Sochi of the new engines.

“The five places is not going to hurt us much, because you can catch up here and also because I am not going to win this race. You have to be realistic.
“In that way it is not such a difficult decision.”

Another factor for the decision to take the new engines and penalties was to avoid unnecessarily dropping places at Honda’s home race in Japan.

“It’s a very important race for Honda,” he added.

“We have never won there in my time but we are going to do everything we can do be strong at Suzuka.”