The FIA has confirmed Max Verstappen will take a five-place grid penalty at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix for exceeding power unit components.
Red Bull had been analyzing when would be best to fit a new internal combustion engine (ICE) following issues in Mexico City, and selected Interlagos for a number of reasons. One is the ability to use the new power unit in the Sprint — and potentially picking up further points — prior to the penalty kicking in, as well as the ability to overtake on the Brazilian circuit compared to the remaining tracks on the calendar.
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The ICE that Verstappen is using is his sixth of the season, having previously taken a penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix before the summer break. On that occasion, as it was his first time exceeding the limit, it carried a 10-place grid penalty, but each subsequent infringement is a five-place drop.
The penalty only applies to Sunday’s grand prix, so where Verstappen starts the Sprint on Saturday will be unaffected by the change.
Verstappen enters the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend with a 47-point advantage over Lando Norris in the drivers’ championship, having seen that deficit cut by 10 points in Mexico City last weekend.