Max Verstappen, the current world championship leader, may face a grid penalty at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. This penalty is due to Red Bull considering introducing a new engine for Verstappen, which would incur a penalty. Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ standings was reduced to 47 points after finishing sixth in the Mexico City Grand Prix, trailing behind his title rival, Lando Norris.
In July, Verstappen already received a 10-place grid penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix for exceeding the limit of power units allowed for the season. This time, if a new engine is introduced, he would face a five-place penalty. Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, mentioned that the engine used by Verstappen in Mexico City was no longer ideal for racing, affecting his performance. Therefore, the upcoming race in Brazil presents the best opportunity to make the engine change.
While Verstappen faced penalties in Mexico City for forcing Norris off the road during a battle, he also struggled with overall pace at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Recurring power unit issues caused him to miss a significant portion of Friday’s practice sessions, hindering Red Bull’s ability to set up the car correctly for the race.
Despite securing second place on the grid through a fine qualifying lap, the lack of long-run data made it challenging for Red Bull to optimize the car setup. Marko expressed concerns about the team’s inability to make the tires work effectively and noted the engine’s impact on their speed on the straights. As a result, a new engine change is likely in Brazil to address these performance issues.
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix will feature a Sprint weekend format, with a shorter race on Saturday and the full-length race on Sunday. Verstappen’s penalty, if incurred, will be applied to Sunday’s main race. Fans can catch all the action from the Sao Paulo GP live on Sky Sports F1, with various sessions and events scheduled throughout the weekend.
As the Formula 1 Americas triple header concludes with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the championship battle between Verstappen and Norris intensifies. With potential grid penalties looming, the race in Brazil promises to deliver exciting moments and challenges for the teams and drivers. Stay tuned for all the updates and coverage of the Sao Paulo GP on Sky Sports F1.