Max Verstappen of Red Bull is nearly certain to receive a ten-place grid penalty after his engine failed during the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, forcing him to use his fourth engine of the year. But where will he use it? It is almost a given that drivers will need to take extra engines despite the amazing reliability of modern PUs. Formula 1 regulations stipulate that drivers can use a pool of three engines for the season, which is supposed to last 24 races and six Sprint events in addition to qualifying for each of them.
The policy is an attempt to limit running costs as part of the financial regulations, essentially stopping rich teams from taking a new engine whenever they feel like it. It is also partially driven by the sport’s green agenda as it aims to reduce its carbon footprint and impact on the global environment. Therefore, when the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal experienced an electrical outage, Verstappen, who is vying for his fourth consecutive world championship, was almost certain to get a grid penalty if Honda was unable to maintain it.
It appears that the energy recovery system, which failed in Free Practice 2 in Canada, will not be able to be fixed by the Japanese engine manufacturer before the 2024 Austrian GP at the Red Bull Ring. As a result, Red Bull will now need to choose where the penalty will cause the least amount of harm.
Verstappen will receive a 10-place grid penalty where? A 10-place penalty may be particularly detrimental to a team’s attempt to win huge points because it gives their opponents a big advantage. Teams typically need to be far behind in pace to make up for this grid-drop, like Lewis Hamilton did at the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix or Verstappen did at the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix.
Additionally, a fresh PU combined with high downforce loads is more rewarding because the extra kilometres per hour offered can overcome drag making the slipstream and DRS even more powerful for picking off rival cars.
Red Bull took penalties there in 2022 and 2023, with Verstappen going on to win both races comfortably from 14th and sixth despite his teammate starting on pole for the former and second in the latter.
Speaking of which, the Dutchman will probably serve his punishment in the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix, as Red Bull has won the last three races at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The track is known for its strength. While Sector 2 has a strong emphasis on maintaining decent downforce, which means a DRS train is less likely to occur than circuits like the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Italy, making overtaking easier, the longest circuit on the F1 schedule demands a lot of engines, making a new PU rewarding.
High downforce loads coupled with a new PU can yield greater rewards because the extra kph provided can overcome drag, enhancing the slipstream’s and DRS’s ability to overtake competitor vehicles. Red Bull accepted penalties there in 2022 and 2023, and although though his teammate started on pole in the first race and second in the latter, Verstappen won both races handily from 14th and sixth.