Max Verstappen’s challenging weekend at the Mexico Grand Prix may foreshadow more troubles at the Brazilian GP, with Red Bull’s Helmut Marko hinting that the defending champion could face an engine penalty at Interlagos. The issues began early in Mexico, where Verstappen battled engine troubles throughout practice, and despite switching to an alternate power unit from Red Bull’s existing pool, the team struggled to find competitive pace.
“More alarming is that we couldn’t get the tires working,” Marko remarked after the Mexican GP. “We didn’t even come close to the two front teams. This also has to do with the engine problems, and we will have to change one because this one was so slow.”
If Red Bull decides to fit a new engine before parc fermé conditions in Brazil, Verstappen would take a five-place grid penalty. However, if the engine swap occurs under parc fermé, he would be relegated to a pit lane start—a scenario that could create a significant opening for McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to close the championship gap. While a five-place drop could still allow Verstappen to recover, a pit lane start could mean a potential 19-point swing in favor of his rivals if he finishes as low as seventh.
Reflecting on his race in Mexico, Verstappen acknowledged his difficulties. “To get back to sixth was alright, but I couldn’t even fight the Mercedes cars in front. I just had no grip; I was sliding a lot and couldn’t brake. So it was a very tough one,” he admitted. “Hopefully in Brazil, we can be more competitive.”
The potential engine penalty, combined with Red Bull’s lack of pace, heightens the tension as the championship battle enters its final stretch. As Verstappen heads to Brazil, his championship lead is under threat, and his rivals are poised to capitalize on any missteps in what promises to be a high-stakes showdown.
