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