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Max Verstappen topped the final practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, stating that the changes to the RB22 were working well. However, an engine issue plagued him during qualifying, hindering his performance.
“Right from the first part of qualifying, I had an engine problem,” Max explained to Dutch media in Baku. “Because of that, I was losing at least half a second compared to my teammate. Then it got even worse. In Q2 and Q3, it was a complete disaster; it’s clear we have an engine problem.”
“No, the problem wasn't related to the electrical component of the power unit. It later became clear that the issue was with the internal combustion engine, and by Q3, the engine was no longer functioning normally.”
“My top speed kept getting lower. In Q3, my battery wasn't charging, but that’s linked to the engine problem. The engine was cutting out, and the system completely malfunctioned.”
Verstappen predicted that he would most likely not start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix tomorrow with the same engine, though this has not yet been confirmed by Red Bull. Max clarified that this change would not incur a penalty, as the team would use another engine that has already been run.
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