An engine change without consequences for Alex Albon

Le couple Red Bull - Honda got off to a solid start in these 2020 winter tests in Barcelona with two more than productive days for the Milton Keynes team, already holding the second highest mileage behind Mercedes-AMG F1.

After the 168 laps of Max Verstappen here, Alex Albon added 134 loops to Christian Horner's team tally. A flattering result barely upset by a change of Power Unit started just before the break.

“We had a little problem just before lunch when the Honda people noticed something in the data and so we chose to change the engine as a precaution, explains Guillaume Rocquelin, head of racing engineering at Red Bull Racing.

They did a thorough check and there are no problems, so the Power Unit will be back in the car tomorrow. »

A car which for the moment gives satisfaction to Alex Albon, who highlights the progress of the RB16. “Over the winter we focused on some areas where we felt we were struggling and I felt quite comfortable in the car straight away. » indicates the old pilot Toro Rosso.

Albon will return tomorrow in the RB16 in a rather unusual program for Red Bull which rarely shared track time on the same day between its drivers. Verstappen will start in the morning, followed in the afternoon by his Thai teammate.