Max Verstappen facing grid penalty at Belgian Grand Prix, but he will be rested

Red Bull is set to make changes to Max Verstappen’s RB20 ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, which would result in a penalty

According to multiple reports, Max Verstappen is set to take a big grid penalty at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

Red Bull announced on the Friday ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix that the team was replacing several power unit components on Verstappen’s RB20. Among the new components, Red Bill installed a new internal combustion engine (ICE), a new turbocharger (TC), a new motor generator unit-heat (MGU-H), and a new motor generator unit-kinetic (MGU-K).

Each of those components was the fourth such element used by Red Bull on Verstappen’s RB20 this season. For each component listed, teams are allowed four for the entire season, under Article 28.2 of the FIA Sporting Regulations.

As such, it was a matter of time before Red Bull made additional changes, subjecting Verstappen to a penalty, which will reportedly come this weekend.

Per multiple reports, Red Bull will be replacing the ICE on Verstappen’s RB20, and as this is the fifth new ICE used this season, under Article 28.3 of the FIA Sporting Regulations, he will face a ten-place grid penalty this weekend.

And with ten races to follow after Spa, additional penalties could be coming over the course of the season.

Now, this was anticipated following the Spanish Grand Prix, and as we wrote at the time it was likely that Red Bull would make such a change this weekend. This will be the third year in a row the Verstappen was hit with such a penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix, as Red Bull made similar “strategic” changes in both 2022 and 2023. Overtaking is a bit easier at Spa than it is at other circuits, meaning that if Verstappen does start further back in the field, the chances are he can still make up those positions on the track.

For example, at the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix Verstappen qualified on pole, but a series of penalties due to new components saw him start the race in 14th position.

He won the race.

It was the same story last year, as Verstappen qualified in pole position but took a five-place grid drop for new engine components. He started sixth after capturing pole position but again won the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix.

However, this is not 2022 or 2023, and it might be a bit tougher for Verstappen to make up those spots on the track. While the RB19 was the dominant package a season ago, at this point in the season McLaren’s MCL38 might hold that honor. In addition, Mercedes has been strong in recent weeks — having notched five straight Grand Prix podiums — and Ferrari is hoping to rebound at Spa.

So a fight to the front might be tougher.

However, something that could aid in Verstappen’s effort is rest. While the driver was up until the early-morning hours ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix participating in the iRacing Spa 24 hours with Team Redline, his sim racing team, according to Dr. Helmut Marko those late-night sim racing sessions are coming to an end.

At least when he has an F1 race in the morning.

“Max Verstappen was rather thin-skinned this weekend, and of course it didn’t take long for criticism to arise – no wonder, since he spends half the night playing sim racing,” Marko said to Speed Week. “I have to point out that at Imola, after a sim-racing session, he only went to bed at three o’clock in the morning – and then won the grand prix. Max has a different sleep rhythm, and he got his seven hours of sleep.

“His late-night sim session on the Hungary weekend only happened because one of his team’s drivers dropped out. Nonetheless, we have agreed that in future he won’t do simulations so late anymore.”

Can a rested Verstappen fight to the front this weekend?