Verstappen's Speed Concerns Prompt Possible Engine Penalty
Red Bull is worried about Max Verstappen's straight-line speed, so he may be getting ready for an engine change grid penalty at this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.
Verstappen encountered engine troubles during practice at the Mexico Grand Prix, necessitating an unscheduled power unit replacement for the remainder of the race. The 3-time world champion was impeded during the race by the pool engine's high mileage, which resolved the immediate mechanical concerns.
According to speed trap data, Verstappen's top speed was 251.4 km/h, which was slower than teammate Sergio Perez's 253.4 km/h. Verstappen was the second slowest at the first intermediate trap, clocking in at 299.6 km/h, after Perez at 303.1 km/h and title rival Lando Norris at 307.9 km/h.
Due to Red Bull's RB20's inability to match Ferrari and McLaren's race pace, the team is thinking about getting Verstappen a new power unit. Given its reputation for overtaking possibilities, the Interlagos track offers a calculated option for this kind of shift.
Despite the fact that Verstappen was reprimanded for driving offenses against Norris during the race, Red Bull remains concerned about his slowness. Red Bull's racing adviser, Helmut Marko, noted that tire performance was still a major concern.
Marko claims that the engine used in Mexico was specifically designed for practice sessions and that its performance declined with age. He maintained that a five-place grid penalty would not matter in Brazil, since the circuit might pass.
Verstappen now leads Norris by 47 points in the standings, so any engine penalty would only affect his position in the main race, not the Saturday sprint event.
