Max Verstappen identified a power unit problem with his Red Bull during qualifying for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The issue left him without top speed and trapped in a cycle of high battery use. He said there was no point racing without changes.
Verstappen finished fourth in qualifying after being beaten by teammate Isack Hadjar in Q3. He described how the DM01 power unit failed to deliver expected performance on the straights.
"The engine just isn't working," Verstappen said. "It doesn't pull like it normally does." He explained that the lack of speed forced greater use of the MGU-K, which then left insufficient electrical power for the final sector.
The Dutch driver added that the problem was absent in the earlier sprint race. Red Bull will investigate the cause and consider whether to break parc ferme rules for an engine change ahead of the grand prix.
Verstappen stated a clear preference for alterations. "There's actually no point racing like this tomorrow, if we keep the car the same," he said.
