Max Verstappen has confirmed that an engine penalty looms over his final stretch of the 2024 F1 season, with Brazil’s Interlagos circuit emerging as a possible venue for the strategic swap. The penalty comes amid performance concerns after power unit issues hampered Verstappen’s straight-line speed at the Mexico City Grand Prix, an issue Red Bull struggled to fully resolve during Friday practice.
While Brazil is tempting due to Interlagos’ ample overtaking zones, Verstappen says a final decision has not yet been made. “I haven’t heard anything yet,” he admitted. “It’s not been discussed, but I know that I will have to take one at some point. So we’ll see.”
Deciding when and where to absorb the penalty is always a gamble, Verstappen added, as no track truly guarantees easy recovery. Yet, should he take the penalty at Interlagos, only the starting grid for Sunday’s main race would be affected.
Red Bull’s consideration of Brazil as a penalty location brings memories of 2021, when Lewis Hamilton staged a remarkable comeback to win from 10th after taking a grid penalty for a power unit change. The circuit’s characteristic overtaking-friendly layout could once again set the stage for a high-stakes recovery drive.
As Red Bull works to manage Verstappen’s power unit situation, the upcoming Sao Paulo GP is shaping up to be yet another thrilling chapter in the season’s dramatic title fight.
