Max Verstappen addresses prospect at being forced to take unwanted F1 penalty

Max Verstappen has not ruled out the prospect of being forced to take an engine penalty in the remainder of the 2026 F1 season. 

The Red Bull driver has thus far not taken a engine grid penalty in the campaign, and is on the final penalty-free example of the Internal Combustion Engine, turbocharger, MGU-K, energy store, control electronics, and the exhaust systems.

He has also used five of the six permitted power unit ancillary components, meaning he would have to get to seven used before a penalty is incurred.

In contrast, team-mate Isack Hadjar took a five-place grid drop in Malaysia for a new ICE, and took a pit-lane start in Singapore for a new ICE, turbocharger, exhaust, and PU-ANC. 

In Italy, Liam Lawson took a full whack penalty of every component and was sent to the back of the field, although this counted towards the total of Hadjar's car with Lawson deputising for the injured Frenchman at the time.

Verstappen has also suffered two power unit related retirements in 2026, with a coolant leak forcing him out in China, before an engine failure off the line in Monaco ended his race on Lap 1. 

When asked if a potential penalty was incoming over the final six rounds of the season, Verstappen, who has won the previous two races in Sepang and Singapore, did not rule it out. 

"That we have to take a penalty at one point, yeah, potentially," Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365.

"But there's no known date to that at the moment.

"So we just see what happens."