Max Verstappen may face a significant penalty on the starting grid after repairing his fifth Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) of the 2024 season.
The Red Bull team took the poor performance during the halfway point of the 2024 season very seriously. In order to improve their performance on weekends, Milton Keynes introduced additional upgrades. Additionally, as part of a secret test, the Austrian constructor chose to drive the older RB18 at the Imola circuit. As a result, rumors of a possible penalty for Verstappen at the Austrian GP emerged.
Verstappen went to the Imola circuit to gather more information about the latest issues with the chassis. However, this “secret test” was considered a violation of the regulations by several teams, resulting in a potential penalty for the Dutch driver. Furthermore, Red Bull attempted to address their problematic pace by replacing a total of four different ICEs in Verstappen’s chassis.
Therefore, if a fifth Internal Combustion Engine is repaired, Verstappen will receive a ten-position penalty on the grid. Faced with this situation, Verstappen acknowledged that the current circumstances were not ideal. Consequently, the team had to resort to extreme measures. Additionally, the 26-year-old driver was eager to see how the situation would unfold for Red Bull throughout the 2024 season.
During the 2024 season, Verstappen did not hesitate to highlight the issues with the chassis. He noted that everyone had become more competitive in terms of performance this season. Furthermore, the 26-year-old driver emphasized the difficulty of this season and emphasized the importance of honesty within the team.
Furthermore, winning races alone was not enough for Verstappen due to the imminent issues with the chassis. He believed that Red Bull could always strive for better performance, which led him to raise the concern. Milton Keynes needed to continue working diligently as Verstappen has always been direct and critical when addressing problems.
To maintain their lead in both world championships, Red Bull will need to implement several upgrades throughout the season. The competition at the front is intensifying and as a result, the end of the season may witness an exciting battle among multiple teams fighting for the championship.
