VERSTAPPEN FACES GRID PENALTY!
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen may receive a grid penalty for the Brazilian GP due to switching to a new engine.
Red Bull Racing is considering fitting a new engine to three-time world champion Max Verstappen’s car for this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix. This change could cause Verstappen to drop down the grid, but Red Bull may take this risk because of concerns about Verstappen’s straight-line performance.
Last weekend at the Mexican GP, Verstappen had to make an unexpected power unit change due to engine issues encountered during practice. The Red Bull driver had to revert to an older engine, losing speed advantage and experiencing difficult moments during certain sections of the race. According to speed measurement data, Verstappen’s speed fell behind his teammate Sergio Perez and main championship rival Lando Norris. Perez reached a speed of 253.4 km/h, while Verstappen was at 251.4 km/h.
Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko noted that sufficient preparation was not possible due to the engine issues on Friday and emphasized that the performance of the engine used in the car had declined.
“We need to do something,” Marko said, noting that a grid penalty could be tolerable on a track like Interlagos, where overtaking is relatively easy.
Red Bull plans to gain an advantage by fitting a new engine. Verstappen’s penalty for the new engine will be five places. However, since there will also be a sprint race during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, this penalty will only affect the main race.
For Verstappen, who currently holds a 47-point advantage over Norris, this grid penalty may not be very significant due to Interlagos’ overtaking opportunities.
