It’s official, Max Verstappen will be penalized at least 5-place grid on the start for the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix.
The reason: the engine change after a challenging race in Mexico where issues affected his performance. Red Bull had to act quickly to get back on track.
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Engine issues piling up for Verstappen
During the last Grand Prix, Verstappen encountered difficulties with his engine, forcing him to make an unexpected replacement. An engine already used this season was reused, but despite this change, the performance was not up to par, especially on the straights where he recorded speeds significantly lower than his teammate Sergio Perez. Red Bull decided to take action before the situation became critical, especially since Scuderia Ferrari has now moved ahead in the Constructors’ Championship. As a reminder, in Formula 1, each driver is allowed a certain number of components for their car throughout the season. Regarding the internal combustion engine, Verstappen has already used the 4 allowed by the regulations. However, he can use a 5th engine, incurring the 5-place penalty. This is a decision often made at the end of the season by many teams on the grid.
Interlagos circuit is the best opportunity
Interlagos is known to be a circuit where overtaking is frequent, which could mitigate the impact of a five-place grid penalty for Verstappen. Indeed, starting further back on the grid is less of a problem in Brazil since it’s easier to move up. According to Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, the team aims to improve straight-line speed, an ultra-important aspect to remain competitive. With Verstappen’s recent difficulty in getting the tires to work, a new engine could provide the necessary boost for the RB20 in Sao Paulo. Additionally, with a comfortable 47-point lead over Lando Norris in the standings, Verstappen can afford to take some risks, especially since the risk is limited on this circuit. Let’s not forget that this weekend also features the Sprint race, which could help Max limit point losses to his rival.
The necessity of renewing F1 engines
The engine Verstappen used during the Mexico Grand Prix was not intended for that race. As Marko pointed out, the older an engine gets, the more it wears out, and the more its performance decreases. Thus, the engine change becomes a necessity to ensure Verstappen can compete at the front of the race, especially against opponents like Ferrari and McLaren, who show impressive performances week after week. Red Bull’s decision could also influence the team’s strategy for the rest of the season, especially if they aim to optimize Verstappen’s performance for the upcoming races.
This thorny $20 million headache for Red Bull absolutely must be resolved before 2025
This article explores Verstappen’s grid penalty for the Brazilian GP due to an engine change, the challenges he faced in Mexico, and how Red Bull plans to tackle these issues strategically. As the season approaches its climax, every decision could significantly impact both Verstappen’s championship bid and Red Bull’s overall performance.
Featured image: Red Bull Content Pool
Source: Motorsport.com