F1 News
Does Tsunada's engine change hint reliability problems for Red Bull?
- GPblog.com
Yuki Tsunoda switched to a new set of engine components. The AlphaTauri driver received a new internal combustion engine, MGU-H, MGU-K, turbocharger, and exhaust system. As a result, the Japanese driver is already on his second power unit, just like teammate Pierre Gasly and Red Bull Racing driver. Does this indicate reliability problems at Red Bull Powertrains?
Reliability problems for Red Bull?
The problems that caused Red Bull Racing drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez to retire in the Bahrain Grand Prix were seemingly not traced to the Red Bull Powertrains power source. The retirement of Pierre Gasly, whose AlphaTauri caught fire during the race, may have. Yet both Gasly and Perez already had to replace engine parts.
So now Tsunoda too seems to have had problems with his first engine. The Japanese driver is changing to his second power unit of the season. Three of those are allowed, for every engine change that exceeds that number he can expect a grid penalty.
This makes Max Verstappen the only driver with a Red Bull Powertrains power unit who has not yet had these crucial parts replaced. Does this point to possible reliability problems with the former Honda engines or has Red Bull now plugged the leak?
Tsunoda switches to second engine
