Marko explains why Verstappen suddenly had to go back to the old Honda engine
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Prior to the Spanish Grand Prix it was announced that adjustments had been made to Max Verstappen's engine. Helmut Marko explains why the replacement of some parts was necessary by Red Bull Racing.
The new Honda's power unit is in the RB16 since Silverstone, but there were some problems during qualifying on Saturday. As a result the Red Bull mechanics put old components like the internal combustion engine, turbo, MGU-H and MGU-K back in the car.
Marko explains that this was done as a precaution. ""We had a few electronic problems in the data during qualifying, with occasional dropouts. We suspect it has to do with the wiring harness or some sensors. ...and we had to put the old engine in to be on the safe side," says the Red Bull advisor in conversation with Auto, Motor und Sport.
Mercedes won a few tenths
The second engine specification allowed Verstappen to drive with more power over a longer period of time, but that wasn't possible on the Barcelona circuit because of the old parts. It wouldn't have been enough to beat Lewis Hamilton anyway, according to Marko. "We didn't have the pace of Friday and Mercedes gained two to three tenths (compared to the longruns in the second free practice)", concludes Marko.