Max Verstappen is facing a five-place grid penalty in the forthcoming Brazilian Grand Prix due to the installation of a new internal combustion engine in his vehicle. This was announced by the FIA after it was made public by team advisor Helmut Marko that such a twist had occurred. The move comes after a number of back and forths with the Honda power unit installed in Verstappen’s car, which led to the issues regarding the raced engine’s dependability.
For many weeks before the race, there were questions as to whether Verstappen would be fitted with a new engine. Earlier in the season, he had already changed some parts due to technical failures, leaving no room for any further mistakes. Considering how intense the battle for the title was and how crucial it was to have an engine that would assure finishing all races, it was a no-brainer for Red Bull Racing to go for a whole new engine installment, just to give Verstappen a fighting chance.
So because of their decision to put in only the combustion engine, Red Bull managed to contain only a five grid place disadvantage. The team also changed the low-pressure exhaust system; this is however a non-receivable penalized component change meaning Verstappen will not have any worry on how to spend the mandatory time in the pits.
The Brazilian Grand Prix holds great significance for Verstappen as he looks to enhance his position further in the championships. That will be a setback since starting from pole position he has to defend his lead against all odds scourging up the field. In spite of this however, thanks to his abilities and the speed of the Red Bull car, he stands to gain back the lost places in the course of the race depending on the circumstances.
With the race weekend drawing closer, the attention will be diverted to Verstappen and the Red Bull team as they work their way to cope with the new engine situation, and perhaps, how their choice will affect performance on the track. Fans and analysts alike are looking forward to seeing if Vera Verstappen will be able to fight his way through the grid and still retain the lead in the championship race.
