Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will serve a 10-place grid penalty at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix for exceeding his engine allowance, with the Dutch driver having won the previous two races at Spa despite serving a grid penalty. Watch the Belgian Grand Prix weekend live on Sky Sports from Friday to Sunday
Friday, 26 July 2024 13:57 UK
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will receive a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix after exceeding his engine allowance.
As expected, and as reported earlier this week, Red Bull have opted to take what they recently admitted was an “inevitable” penalty against their world championship leader at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend.
The Dutch driver’s car was fitted with its fifth internal combustion engine unit of the season ahead of Friday’s first practice session – one more than the rules allow without penalty – which means he will have an automatic 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race.
That means Verstappen will not start the Grand Prix higher than 11th.
The reigning world champion has been on the brink of a grid penalty since losing his power unit during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend in June.
Karan Chandhok details Verstappen’s frustration at the Hungarian Grand Prix and whether his anger was justified
Verstappen leads the 2024 drivers’ championship standings by 76 points over McLaren’s Lando Norris despite not winning in the last three races, but will serve a penalty in Belgium for the third year in a row.
He came from 14th to win the race in 2022 and then started from sixth to win in 2023.
Reporting on expected engine penalties on Wednesday: Sky Sports News Craig Slater said: “It’s a particularly tough test at the moment. In the last race in Hungary you could hear him sound confused and annoyed over the team radio but that’s because the other cars are comparable to Red Bull at the moment.
“A few years ago Max came from outside the top ten all the way up and then won from sixth place after suffering a five-place grid penalty last year, but this year it’s arguably a much tougher prospect for him to win.
Verstappen vented his frustration over Red Bull’s team radio after failing to finish on the podium at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
“Will he be able to close the gap on Norris at the top of the drivers’ standings?
“Red Bull is a very fast car on a straight track like Spa, so maybe they think they still have enough performance to finish at the front.”
Verstappen vented his frustration over Red Bull’s team radio after failing to finish on the podium at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Sky Sports F1 Belgian Grand Prix Live Schedule
Friday, July 26
8.50am: F3 Practice
10am: F2 practice
12pm: Belgian Grand Prix Practice 1 (session starts at 12.30pm)
2pm: F3 Qualifying
2:55pm: F2 Qualifying
3:45pm: Belgian Grand Prix Practice 2 (Session starts at 4pm)
5:15pm: F1 Show
Saturday, July 27
8:45am: F3 Sprint
11:15 AM: Belgian Grand Prix Practice 3 (Session starts at 11:30am)
1:10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Belgian Grand Prix qualifying preparations
3pm: Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notes
Sunday, July 28
7:25am: F3 Feature Race
8:55am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday – Belgian GP Preparations*
2pm: Belgian Grand Prix*
4pm: The chequered flag: Belgian GP reactions
5pm: Ted’s Notes
* Live coverage on Sky Sports Main Event
The action continues this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix, the final race before F1’s summer break, and all sessions at Spa-Francorchamps can be watched live on Sky Sports F1.
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