Red Bull change engine components on Perez’s car ahead of Mexican’s debut with team

Mar 28, 2021 2:18pm UTC

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - MARCH 27: Sergio Perez of Mexico and Red Bull Racing prepares to drive during

Sergio Perez will head into Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix – his first with Red Bull – with a brand-new energy store (ES) and Control Electronics (CE) after the team elected to change both those elements of his Honda power unit.

Though they are unscheduled changes, made under parc ferme conditions, Perez will not incur a penalty, as each car can use two ES and two CE before a grid drop is applied.

The one-time Grand Prix winner will thus start the race where he qualified, in P11, though with team mate Max Verstappen on pole, he is confident his RB16B has the pace to come through the field.

Verstappen, meanwhile, had several elements of his floor changed ahead of the race, following minor damage sustained during qualifying when he straddled a kerb.

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