Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen set to start the Russian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Red Bull opted to take a raft of new power unit components at Sochi.
The Dutchman, who already handed a three-place grid penalty by stewards for Russia after his Italian GP collision with Lewis Hamilton. According to F1 rules, Max will receive a number of grid penalties that will inevitably see him start the Russian GP from the rear of the field.
What New Components fitted on to No.33 car ?
Verstappen has taken a new internal Honda internal combustion engine, new turbo, MGU-H, MGU-K, energy store, control electronics, and exhaust this weekend – with grid penalties set to be handed down to the driver as he has exceeded his season allocation of every one of those parts bar the exhaust.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will be Joining Verstappen at the back, after Ferrari has decided to take new power unit elements for this weekend, including a new-spec hybrid system.
That will strengthen Mercedes’ chances of winning at Sochi and extending their run of victories every year since the track’s debut in 2014. The Silver Arrows currently hold an 18-point advantage in the constructors standings over Red Bull while Hamilton is five points behind Verstappen.
