Red Bull Racing has made a bold move with their championship leader, Max Verstappen, by choosing to install a new engine for the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix. This decision, however, means Verstappen will incur a five-place grid penalty, adding complexity to his fight to maintain a shrinking lead in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship. The Dutch driver, who last claimed a victory in June at the Spanish Grand Prix, now sees his points advantage under threat from McLaren’s rising star, Lando Norris.
Last weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix highlighted the intensity of this title race. Norris finished significantly higher than Verstappen, closing the gap between them to 47 points. Verstappen’s sixth-place finish garnered him only eight points, while Norris walked away with a stronger 18 points after securing second place. As the season nears its final stretch, the pressure is on Verstappen to defend his lead and fend off his rivals.
Red Bull’s strategy centers around preserving key engine parts that still seem reliable, while installing a new combustion engine to boost performance for the race in Brazil. This penalty will affect Verstappen’s position in Sunday’s main event but won’t impact Saturday’s Sprint race. Red Bull had anticipated this swap for some time, especially after facing reliability issues with a previous engine at the Canadian Grand Prix in early June. In a similar instance over the summer, Verstappen incurred a more severe 10-place penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix for exceeding his engine limit.
As Verstappen vies for his fourth consecutive world title with Red Bull, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Milton Keynes-based team had dominated Formula 1 across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, with Verstappen securing victories and leaving little room for rivals. Yet, recent months have seen increased competition from McLaren and Ferrari, both of which have made considerable strides. Verstappen’s early-season lead—bolstered by winning seven of the first 10 races—now feels less secure.
The Brazilian Grand Prix also comes on the heels of a controversial weekend in Mexico, where Verstappen received two 10-second penalties. Ahead of the Brazil race, the FIA has announced adjustments in their steward panel, with veteran Johnny Herbert, who previously penalized Verstappen, standing by his decision and advising the champion to avoid risks in his driving approach. As the season barrels forward, Red Bull’s latest move underscores the high-stakes strategy to keep Verstappen at the forefront of one of the sport’s most competitive championships.