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Red Bull’s Bold Engine Gamble: Will Verstappen’s Power Boost Break Cost Cap Rules?

James Taylor by James Taylor
November 15, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Red Bull’s Bold Engine Gamble: Will Verstappen’s Power Boost Break Cost Cap Rules?

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 08: (EDITORS NOTE: A special effects camera filter was used for this image.) Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing prepares to drive during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 08, 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202511080712 // Usage for editorial use only //

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Title: Tensions Rise in F1 as McLaren Questions Red Bull’s Engine Changes Amid Verstappen’s Stunning Podium Finish

In a dramatic turn of events at the Brazilian Grand Prix, the world of Formula 1 is buzzing with controversy as Red Bull Racing’s strategic engine change for Max Verstappen sparks a heated debate over cost cap regulations. Team principal Laurent Mekies has kept fans on the edge of their seats, skillfully dodging questions about the exact performance boost provided by the new Honda power unit. However, he did emphasize a crucial point: “everything is important” in the tightly contested F1 2025 grid.

The stakes were high after a disastrous qualifying session at Interlagos, where both Verstappen and teammate Yuki Tsunoda found themselves eliminated in Q1. Faced with a critical choice, Red Bull made the bold decision to overhaul Verstappen’s RB21 setup and fit a new engine, resulting in the driver starting from the pit lane due to a breach of parc fermé regulations. Yet, this gamble paid off spectacularly, with Verstappen roaring back to clinch an impressive P3 finish, keeping his slim title hopes flickering.

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But the real drama unfolded off the track, as McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, raised eyebrows over the implications of Red Bull’s engine switch. He bluntly stated, “These kind of power unit changes challenge the regulations,” probing whether the costs associated with the new engine would be counted against Red Bull’s season expenditure cap. “If the engine was changed for performance reasons, it should go in the cost cap,” he declared, highlighting a key distinction between performance-enhancing changes and those made for reliability.

This issue has sparked significant concern within the F1 community, particularly during the latest F1 Commission meeting where McLaren formally addressed its worries. The cost cap system, introduced in 2021, imposes strict financial limits on teams, aiming to level the playing field in a sport notorious for its lavish spending.

Following the race, Mekies was pressed on how much Verstappen benefitted from the new power unit, but he remained tight-lipped, only noting the importance of such changes as the season progresses. “It’s difficult to say,” he admitted, acknowledging the minuscule margins that can define success or failure in F1. “Everything, the gaps are small enough for everything to be important.”

Verstappen’s remarkable drive was further complicated by the outstanding performance of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who secured his best result yet by finishing second. Mekies praised Verstappen’s tenacity, stating, “Credit to Max for the sensational drive,” and reminisced about last year’s thrilling victory from P16, drawing parallels to the current race.

With McLaren’s Lando Norris solidifying his lead in the Drivers’ Championship, the pressure mounts as Verstappen trails him by 49 points with just three races remaining. The tension is palpable as the F1 world watches closely how these developments unfold, not just for Red Bull and McLaren, but for the entire sport as it grapples with the evolving landscape of regulations and performance.

As the season races towards its conclusion, one thing is clear: the battle for supremacy in Formula 1 is heating up, both on and off the track. Will McLaren’s concerns about Red Bull’s strategy reshape the future of the sport? Only time will tell, but fans and teams alike are poised for a thrilling finish.

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