Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has warned that Max Verstappen will inevitably suffer an engine penalty at some stage this season. Heading into the British Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, Red Bull has given Sergio Perez new internal combustion engine components, the MGU-H, MGU-K and traction control system, to push him to the limit allowed for each department.

After Perez qualified 19th due to an error in the early part of qualifying that left his RB20 stranded on the gravel, the team decided to stock up on additional components. In parc fermé track conditions and with nothing left to lose, Red Bull decided to use a fifth ICE, as well as a new power reserve and control electronics, and at the same time incur the penalty of having to export plays in the pit lane.

Verstappen was on the verge of a penalty because he had reached the limit with all six components. Initial installation of any new components in excess of the quota will incur a 10 grid position penalty. Additional substitutions will then result in a five-place penalty. As the season reaches the halfway mark – 12 races gone, 12 remaining – Horner has admitted Verstappen will have to follow in Perez’s footsteps in the second half of the campaign.

“I’m sure at some point we will have to use an additional engine for the Max,” Horner said. “It’s just a matter of when you decide to do it strategically. “So we’re working with Honda on that. We’ll definitely have to pay a fine at some point this year.” That will certainly hinder Verstappen from defending his drivers’ title, although he has opened up an 84-point gap on his rivals, led by McLaren’s Lando Norris, despite not having the fastest car in the last two races.

Despite winning just three of the last seven races since the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, and despite Red Bull being outclassed by McLaren and Mercedes in that period, Verstappen still scored more points than his rivals. The enemy chases after himself. Horner admitted Red Bull is at “peak” in terms of development, but added: “We have a lot more in the pipeline, there are still many gains to be made. “Inevitably, as it gets closer, it’s those little details that make the difference. “The form is changing a bit. Mercedes is very strong [at Silverstone}, McLaren is also very strong [in Austria], we won in Barcelona. “In these three matches, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Max scored the most points.”