Max Verstappen is on track to incur a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming Sao Paulo Grand Prix, as Red Bull considers fitting a new engine that would trigger this penalty for the championship leader. This decision comes after Verstappen received significant penalties during the Mexico City Grand Prix, where he forced Lando Norris off the track on two occasions, leading to time penalties that hindered his performance.
In the latest standings, Verstappen’s lead over Norris has shrunk to 47 points, following a disappointing sixth-place finish in Mexico, where he ended the race four positions behind his nearest rival. Having already faced a ten-place penalty in the Belgian Grand Prix for exceeding the allowed number of power units this season, Verstappen is looking at a lesser penalty this time around. However, Red Bull is weighing the benefits of introducing a new engine, making the Sao Paulo race a strategic opportunity to implement this change.
Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, pointed out that Verstappen’s previous engine, which had seen better days, contributed to his difficulties in Mexico. The performance of older engines typically declines, and Marko emphasized that the Sao Paulo circuit presents a better chance for overtaking compared to other venues, mitigating the impact of a grid drop. Despite the potential penalty, he believes that the track’s layout could work to Verstappen’s advantage.
Verstappen faced significant challenges during the Mexico City GP, receiving two ten-second penalties for his aggressive driving against Norris, but his overall pace was lacking. The Dutch driver struggled due to missing a considerable amount of practice time on Friday due to ongoing power unit issues, which left Red Bull with inadequate long-run data to fine-tune their setup. Marko acknowledged the team’s difficulties in optimizing tire performance during the race, suggesting that their lack of pace may be tied to these earlier complications.
As the Sao Paulo Grand Prix approaches, it is clear that Red Bull is contemplating critical decisions regarding engine performance and race strategy. The weekend will feature a sprint race on Saturday, but any penalties will apply to Sunday’s full-length Grand Prix. Fans can look forward to an exciting weekend of racing as the team works to regain momentum in the championship.