Verstappen's engine went into 'protection' mode after excessive slippage

Even before the start of qualifying, Max Verstappen knew that his position on the grid would be distant tomorrow at Monza, due to multiple element changes on the Honda V6 turbo / hybrid Power Unit of his RB15.

But the Dutchman did not even have time to try to shine today in Italy, his engine suddenly losing power in Q1, with a premature elimination of the driver Red Bull Racing.

Honda was quick to find the cause of this setback. “Max was unable to set a time in Q1 after too much slippage on a kerb, causing a rise in revs and the engine going into protection mode, then the reduction of power by an FIA system” comments Toyoharu Tanabe, Honda technical director F1.

Max Verstappen is using the latest evolution of the Honda engine this weekend and will attempt a crazy comeback tomorrow in the race. The Dutchman is not close to a challenge. “I'm not worried about the engine tomorrow, because we haven't seen any problems in the race before and the upgrade seems to be working well in terms of performance. » specifies the rising star of the discipline.