Max Verstappen believes it is worth Honda taking on grid penalties at some events this year if it ensures the manufacturer can close on its Formula 1 rivals.
Honda has introduced its Spec 2 engine for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix in the wake of detecting a quality control issue on Daniil Kvyat’s power unit in China.
It means Red Bull’s drivers are on their second Internal Combustion Engines of the season while Toro Rosso’s duo are onto their third – and final – permitted component.
If a driver takes on a fourth ICE in one season they will be hit with either a five- or 10-place grid penalty, depending on other circumstances.
“I am really happy because they keep pushing really hard to bring updates so that is always good,” said Verstappen.
“I think last year I showed that even if you start at the back you can still finish on the podium like for example in Austin. I don’t think it is a major problem.
“I am happy if we can say by the end of the season that we have really closed the gap to Ferrari and if we use a few more engines then that is fine.”
“I am happy that they did it [introducing Spec 2] and hopefully we can run that engine longer than compared to the first one, which we can still use, there is no problem with it.”
Verstappen added that the performance displayed by Formula 1’s current engine pacesetters acts as further motivation for Honda.
“I think in the race we are more competitive,” he said. “In qualifying it is mainly just Ferrari that stands out, it is massive, but like I said before they have found something in their engine that really works so it is good.
“It gives Honda good motivation to work even harder which they do.”
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