Red Bull has issued an apology to Max Verstappen after the Dutchman was struck with a terminal engine problem at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Verstappen will be fitted with a new engine in Barcelona, a plan that was already in place prior to the Monaco failure.
The four-time champion was one of only two drivers who entered the Monaco weekend with his original engine in the back of the car.
Starting from the second row on the grid, a problem with the engine arose on the formation lap and at the race start, Verstappen plummeted down the order before retiring from the race.
“It is an engine issue, we have identified what the issue is,” Mekies told media including RacingNews365.
“It developed on the formation lap and gave us no chance. So that’s what it is.
“As you may be aware, it was also the very first PU of Max, which was planned to be changed after Monaco.”
“It’s not what we wanted. We can only apologise to Max because the job he had done with the team to get to that level of pace around Monaco was outstanding.”
While Verstappen’s day ended in heartbreak, it was a more welcoming result for his team-mate Isack Hadjar who scored his first podium with Red Bull.
Verstappen will have a quick turnaround to get back on track as the Spanish Grand Prix takes place this weekend, where he will be aided by a fresh engine.
Mekies added that the team is aware of what caused his failure on Sunday in Monaco, but stated it is too early to know how to rectify it going forward.
“It’s probably early days to discuss what the fix is, but we think we have identified what the issue is.”
