Max Verstappen set for Sao Paulo GP grid penalty as Pink Bull trace at engine change for world championship chief

Max Verstappen seems prone to face a grid drop on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix with Pink Bull strongly contemplating introducing a penalty-incurring new engine for the world championship chief.

Verstappen’s lead over Lando Norris on the prime of the drivers’ standings was lower to 47 factors because the Dutchman completed sixth in Sunday’s Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix, 4 locations behind his title rival.

With Verstappen having already incurred a 10-place grid penalty at July’s Belgian Grand Prix for going past the restrict of 4 energy items for use all through the season, he would solely obtain a five-place penalty this time round for a second infringement.

Pink Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko mentioned that the outdated engine Verstappen was utilizing – after being pressured right into a swap following issues in Friday apply – was a think about his Sunday struggles, and that this weekend’s race in Brazil is the best choice of the 4 remaining rounds to make the change.

“The engine we had in there was no longer intended for the race, and the older an engine gets, the more its performance diminishes,” Marko instructed Austrian broadcaster ORF after Sunday’s race.

“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 kilometres per hour on the straights.”

Verstappen acquired two separate 10-second time penalties for twice forcing Norris off the street in a wheel-to-wheel battle on lap 10, but additionally lacked general tempo on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

He was placed on the again foot after lacking a good portion of Friday’s two apply periods because of recurring energy unit points.

Whereas a advantageous qualifying lap noticed Verstappen salvage second on the grid, the very fact he missed on gaining long-run knowledge made it more durable for Pink Bull to seek out the appropriate automobile setup for the race.

Marko added: “More alarming is that we couldn’t make the tyres work – both medium and hard.

“We have been nowhere close to the 2 entrance groups, and I suppose a part of the issue is that Friday, we could not drive due to the engine issues.

“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 within the automobile, was not speculated to be within the automobile, so most certainly Brazil might occur.”

The Sao Paulo Grand Prix is a Sprint weekend with a shortened race taking place on Saturday, but Verstappen’s penalty would be applied to Sunday’s full-length contest.

Sky Sports F1’s live Sao Paulo GP schedule

Thursday October 31
4pm: Drivers’ Press Conference

Friday November 1
2pm: Sao Paulo GP Practice One (session starts at 2.30pm)
4.30pm: Team Principals’ Press Conference
6pm: Sao Paulo GP Sprint Qualifying (qualifying starts at 6.30pm*)

Saturday November 2
1pm: Sao Paulo GP Sprint build-up
2pm: Sao Paulo GP Sprint
3.30pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
5pm: Sao Paulo Qualifying build-up
6pm: Sao Paulo GP Qualifying
8pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday November 3
3.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Sao Paulo GP build-up
5pm: THE SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX
7pm: Chequered Flag: Sao Paulo GP reaction
8pm: Ted’s Notebook

*also live on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1’s Americas triple header concludes this weekend with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with every session live on Sky Sports F1. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime