Max Verstappen has stated he has yet to receive a final decision regarding an engine penalty for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, though he acknowledged, “I’ll have to take one at some point.”
Reports indicate that Red Bull might need to equip Verstappen with a new engine for the season’s last four races after the team exceeded the allowed four power units back in Belgium.
These reports follow engine-related troubles the three-time world champion faced in Mexico, where he had to switch to another engine within his current pool.
Verstappen incurred a 10-place grid penalty in Belgium, but the specifics of any new penalty for Sao Paulo remain unclear.
Given the tight competition in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, any penalty could prove significant.
However, with Ferrari and McLaren displaying consistent speed each week, Red Bull may feel the necessity of a new engine to stay competitive for the remainder of the season.
Before the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Verstappen explained that he hadn’t “heard anything yet, it’s not discussed,” and added, “I know that I’ll have to take one at some point, so we’ll see.”
Brazil’s track, known for its overtaking opportunities and chosen as one of six Sprint venues this season, could provide Verstappen, 27, an optimal chance to recover positions if he starts further back.
When asked if this circuit is ideal for a penalty, he replied, “Honestly, it’s something that is always unknown. You think that one particular track is the best place to take an engine or whatever penalty, but it’s never guaranteed. It’s a possibility.”
Red Bull has now fallen to P3 behind Ferrari and McLaren in the constructors’ championship standings
After a challenging race in Mexico, where he finished P6, Verstappen will be focused on making the most of the single practice session on Friday before Sprint Qualifying, especially with Red Bull’s recent struggles to maintain steady pace.
His engine issues in Mexico caused him to miss a substantial portion of the initial practice sessions at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which negatively impacted his race performance.
Reflecting on the situation, Verstappen said, “I think in general we probably lack a little bit of pace, for sure. It could have been a lot better. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to really understand that in the long runs.
“It was very painful, especially when it’s a tight battle with some teams and you’re a bit on the back foot. You really need to maximise everything that you can, and we couldn’t do that in Mexico.”