Max probably to use new engine in Monza: 'Will decide after Friday'
Published on 30 August 2018 by Mike Motilall
After the great podium finish at the Belgian Grand Prix, today is just business as usual for Max Verstappen, who met with the press in the run up to the Italian Grand Prix. The meeting is predominantly about the new Renault power unit, the Spec C. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing has the possibility to use this for the first time this weekend. They claim that this power unit can win as much as three tenths of a second per lap, the reliability however is anyone’s guess.
Max had the following to say: “We want as much performance as possible, but I am not expecting too much of that. We will see. That the Renault-team is not going to use that power unit themselves, says a lot in any case. But if that engine can really give three tenths of a second per lap, as they say, then I for sure would use it if I was Renault. Of course there are pro’s and cons, but we will find out now for ourselves.”
The plan is that Daniel Ricciardo if the first one to try out the engine on Friday, after that the decision will be made if to also give Max the same engine. The Ozzie still has to take a penalty for changing the engine while Max can have one new power unit installed without any repercussions.
“We’ll see tomorrow how the engine is running with Daniel and also how well it performs. Or how bad. After that we’ll make a decision”, Max explains. Regarding the rest of the season, he says: “Judging how things look now, I won’t need to take a penalty, but it also depends on which engine we will be using this weekend. For now, things are looking good for us, but it takes only one problem to change that all around.”
In any case, the high speed circuit Monza, also known as ‘The temple of Speed’, remains a challenge for Red Bull Racing. Max: “This is for sure the hardest track for us, based on just horse power alone. We need to have a good set up for the car and then we’ll see.”
Italian GP contest: win a signed orange Max Verstappen driver cap!
