Red Bull F1 driver Max Verstappen faces potential hurdles at the Brazilian Grand Prix. After struggling with engine issues during the recent Mexican GP, Verstappen may incur a grid penalty if a power unit change becomes necessary. The championship leader is wrestling with performance concerns that emerged prominently during the chaotic race in Mexico.
The practice sessions on Friday were disrupted by engine trouble for the three-time champion, prompting Red Bull to replace the power unit for the weekend. While the substituted engine from the team’s pool held up, it did not deliver the necessary performance due to its high mileage.
These performance issues have raised questions for the Austrian team. The RB20 appears to be struggling against fierce competition from Ferrari and McLaren. With just four races left of the season, it could make the most sense for Red Bull to introduce a new power unit and take the grid penalty in Brazil due to the amount of overtaking opportunities at the Interlagos circuit.
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has addressed the team’s challenges, noting:
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 27, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico. Max Verstappen faces the risk of a penalty in Brazil.
Mark Thompson/Getty Images
“More alarming is that we couldn’t make the tyres work – both medium and hard.
“We were nowhere near the two front teams, and I guess part of the problem is that Friday, we couldn’t drive because of the engine problems.
“We have to do something, that’s clear. We also will have a change the engine because we had been so slow on the straight.
“This engine, which was in the car, was not supposed to be in the car, so most likely Brazil could happen.”
Despite the looming penalty, the advantage lies in Interlagos’s track layout, which may allow Verstappen to quickly recover lost positions. Marko commented on this:
“The engine we had in there was no longer intended for the race, and the older an engine gets, the more its performance diminishes,” he said.
“The penalty would be five places. That wouldn’t be so severe in Brazil, for example, where you can overtake relatively easily. But we saw that we were missing three to eight km/h on the straights.”
The Dutch driver currently holds on to his lead in the Drivers’ Championship. However, strong performances from McLaren and Ferrari are closing the gap with Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc close behind. Red Bull has also slipped into the third position in the Constructors’ Championship.
2024 F1 Drivers’ Championship: Current Standings
1. Max Verstappen – 362 points
2. Lando Norris – 315 points
3. Charles Leclerc – 291 points
4. Oscar Piastri – 251 points
5. Carlos Sainz – 240 points
6. Lewis Hamilton – 189 points
7. George Russell – 177 points
8. Sergio Perez – 150 points
9. Fernando Alonso – 62 points
10. Nico Hulkenberg – 31 points
11. Lance Stroll – 24 points
12. Yuki Tsunoda – 22 points
13. Kevin Magnussen – 14 points
14. Alex Albon – 12 points
15. Daniel Ricciardo – 12 points
16. Pierre Gasly – 9 points
17. Oliver Bearman – 7 points
18. Franco Colapinto – 5 points
19. Esteban Ocon – 5 points
20. Liam Lawson – 2 points
21. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
22. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
23. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
