Engine change for Verstappen? "You can't wait for the engine to blow up"

Max Verstappen will face a grid penalty at some point this season for changing to a new Honda engine. The big question is when this will happen: there is a good chance it will be this weekend in Monza, although Red Bull Racing says it has no intention of doing so.

According to the analysts of Sky Sports the Russian Grand Prix is a good possibility. Spa-Francorchamps could also have been an option, but that would have meant free points for Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull must not wait too long to change Verstappen engine

In any case, they feel Red Bull had better take the penalty before they are out of control. "You can't wait for your engine to blow up because you haven't taken the penalty," they say.

Verstappen still can't keep up with Mercedes' pace in the first free practice session at Monza, but according to Sky's analysts, that's partly to do with the fact that Red Bull has reversed its engine setting.