Honda bring ‘countermeasures’ to Russia after Verstappen’s Mugello power unit problems

Red Bull and AlphaTauri’s Honda-powered Formula 1 cars will run with countermeasures on their respective power units at this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix following analysis by the Japanese manufacturer into the cause of Max Verstappen’s power issue at Mugello…

The Dutchman had engine issues in Monza and was then frustrated on the laps to the grid last time out at Mugello with similar niggles. He got a good getaway, but quickly lost power and that dropped him way back down the field. He then got caught up in a collision, which forced the Red Bull driver out of the race.

In the week between Grands Prix, Honda have conducted extensive analysis at their factories in Milton Keynes and Sakura and found “several factors” caused the problem.

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“Using the time since Mugello, our priority has been to carefully analyse the reason for Max’s retirement in that race,” said Honda Technical Director Toyoharu Tanabe. “Our investigation revealed that several factors caused the problem and we have been able to apply countermeasures to deal with each of these, with the aim of ensuring the fault does not happen again.”

Honda did not reveal what the countermeasures were or where they were applied, but it is believed to be focused around the electronics and software areas, rather than a main component like the internal combustion engine.

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Some of their four drivers – Verstappen, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat - will take fresh power units for this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix, but this is as part of a scheduled plan to spread engine component use across the year rather than a response to the problem at Mugello.

Confirmation of which drivers will get take fresh components will be revealed ahead of the track running on Friday.