Max Verstappen slapped with grid penalty for Brazilian GP as Red Bull take...

Max Verstappen slapped with grid penalty for Brazilian GP as Red Bull take…read more

Max Verstappen is set to face a challenging Brazilian Grand Prix as he prepares to start with a five-place grid penalty. Red Bull Racing has opted to equip Verstappen’s car with a fresh engine, hoping the move will improve his performance in the final stretch of the season. Although his lead in the Drivers’ Championship standings remains, the Dutch driver hasn’t secured a race victory since the Spanish Grand Prix in June. This lack of recent wins has allowed his closest rival, McLaren’s Lando Norris, to gradually close the points gap.

The Brazilian Grand Prix grid penalty comes as Verstappen’s points lead was reduced to 47 following a challenging race in Mexico. In that race, Norris outperformed Verstappen by four positions, finishing in second and collecting 18 points, while Verstappen placed sixth, adding only eight points to his tally. Despite this setback, Verstappen still holds the championship lead but will need to fend off a strong late-season surge from Norris and other competitors.

Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf reports that the new power unit installed in Verstappen’s car includes only a replacement combustion engine, with all other components left untouched. Red Bull made the call to swap the engine parts in light of their strategy to maintain durability, especially after a new engine deployed earlier this season failed during the Canadian Grand Prix. By limiting the components swapped out, Red Bull is aiming to manage the penalty’s impact while still addressing power unit reliability.

Verstappen’s grid penalty will only apply to Sunday’s main race in Brazil, meaning it won’t affect his starting position in the Sprint race on Saturday. This could give the Red Bull driver a chance to recover some points and secure a better position for the main event. As part of their strategy, Red Bull has reportedly factored in the risks and benefits of the grid penalty, seeking to keep their driver’s title defense on track in the final races of the season.

Despite the setback, Verstappen remains a favorite in the title race. With only a few events left, each point will be crucial, and the Red Bull team will be closely monitoring performance in Brazil to protect Verstappen’s championship lead. This penalty may raise the stakes, but it also opens the door to an exciting showdown in the upcoming races as Verstappen strives to hold off his rivals.