Max Verstappen Faces Potential FIA Penalty After Major Red Bull Changes at Mexican Grand Prix
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is under scrutiny as he faces a potential penalty from the FIA following significant changes to his Red Bull car ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix. The Dutchman, who is aiming for his fourth consecutive championship, endured a challenging start to the weekend in Mexico City, plagued by persistent power unit issues during Friday’s free practice sessions.
The troubles began when Verstappen’s car encountered technical difficulties, preventing him from setting a lap time in FP2. Red Bull, determined to avoid further complications, opted to make substantial adjustments to the car overnight before Saturday’s FP3 and qualifying rounds. In an effort to resolve the problem, the team decided to perform an engine change on Verstappen’s car, a move that raised concerns about potential regulatory repercussions.
The FIA confirmed that Red Bull had broken the overnight curfew to carry out the necessary repairs, but no penalties were imposed since it was the second of two permitted exceptions for the season. Furthermore, Verstappen managed to avoid an engine penalty, as the change involved reverting to an older power unit that was still within his allocated pool, meaning no new parts were introduced. This decision allowed the three-time champion to sidestep a potential grid drop, maintaining his pole position advantage heading into the rest of the weekend.
However, despite escaping immediate penalties, Red Bull’s situation remains precarious. During FP3, Sky Sports commentator David Croft noted that Red Bull is now running dangerously low on engine parts for the remainder of the season. Should further issues arise, the team may be forced to install fresh engine components, which would exceed the permitted limits and lead to a grid penalty for Verstappen.
With the championship race still tight, a penalty could have serious implications. Lando Norris, currently 57 points behind Verstappen in the drivers’ standings, would stand to benefit if Red Bull’s star driver were to face any setbacks. Red Bull might consider strategically taking new engine parts at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where overtaking is easier, rather than at tracks like Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, where making up positions on the grid could prove more challenging.
As the weekend progresses, all eyes are on Red Bull and their technical maneuvers. While Verstappen has narrowly avoided a penalty for now, the team’s tight margin on engine components signals a potential vulnerability that could impact the championship run in the final stretch of the season. With just a few races left, any misstep could dramatically alter the standings, adding extra pressure on Red Bull to carefully manage their resources and ensure Verstappen remains on track to secure his fourth title.
