Verstappen: Honda target to not take any grid penalties in 2020

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen has said his team's engine partner Honda are targeting to not take any grid penalties in the upcoming season, with the limit on power units being three a season per car.

Verstappen took two grid penalties because of power unit changes in 2019 at the Italian and Russian Grand Prix. Although the penalties weren't a product of wear-and-tear but rather to introduce upgraded power units, it cost the Dutchman and his Red Bull and Toro Rosso colleagues alike as Honda continued to catch up to the rest of the engine manufacturers.

Now the Japanese carmaker has done so (mostly), grid penalties should no longer be an issue for Honda and Red Bull barring any big incidents as Verstappen looks to add to his tally of eight Grand Prix wins.

“Last year we only took engines because they had performance upgrades, and quite big ones,” the 22-year-old was quoted by Crash.net regarding Honda.

Verstappen, who knows both Red Bull and Honda "just have to work harder" than the competition if they want to challenge for titles, added he's not thinking about the competition just yet as that is completely out of his hands.

If he wants to become the youngest world champion of all time, a record currently held by Sebastian Vettel when he won the 2010 title at 23 years old, Verstappen will have to do so this year - it's his last opportunity.