Verstappen set for Brazilian GP grid penalty

Max Verstappen will take an F1 grid penalty during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed. 

Verstappen suffered with an engine problem throughout practice in Mexico that curtailed his running, with the Dutchman also suffering a failure in practice in Canada.

He took a fresh engine and penalty in the Belgian Grand Prix, setting the fastest time in qualifying before dropping to 11th on the grid. 

It will be the sixth internal combustion engine Verstappen will have used in the season, with only four permitted. 

The penalty will only apply to the main grand prix on Sunday and not affect the sprint race, as happened to Liam Lawson in the United States Grand Prix.

The news was confirmed by Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko in his Speedweek column, who revealed that Verstappen was forced to use two engines in Mexico. 

"The pace was also not right because the engine problem meant that a different engine had to be installed, which had reached the end of its life and was actually no longer planned for racing," Marko wrote. 

"That was one of the reasons why we were one of the slowest cars on the straights. When a Formula 1 engine has reached a certain number of kilometres, the loss of performance is clearly noticeable. 

"We are currently investigating whether we could use the engine with the leak again. But here too, the number of kilometres means that it is no longer planned to be used. 

"All of this means that we cannot avoid changing the engine in Brazil, with the corresponding penalty."

It is unclear though how many places exactly Verstappen will drop on the grand prix grid.

Under the sporting regulations, if it is just a single ICE he takes, it will be a five-place demotion on the grid from where he qualifies. 

If Red Bull opts for a full power unit change, he will start from the rear of the grid.

The Dutchman comes into the Sao Paulo weekend leading the world championship by 47 points from Lando Norris, with 34 up for grabs across the sprint weekend in Brazil and 120 left in the season.