‘I’ll have to take one at some point’ – Verstappen gives update on possible engine penalty in Brazil

Max Verstappen has said he has not been notified about any final decision on taking an engine penalty for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, though the Red Bull driver did concede "I’ll have to take one at some point."

It had been reported that the Milton Keynes outfit would have to give Verstappen a new engine for the remaining four races of the season after they previously exceeded the permitted number of four power units a season back in Belgium. Those reports came after the three-time world champion was plagued by engine-related issues in Mexico, as he was forced to switch to another engine in his existing pool.

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Verstappen served a 10-place grid penalty back in Belgium, though it remains to be seen what could be imposed should the team choose to make a change in Sao Paolo. But, with such a tight battle ongoing in both the drivers' and constructors' championships, any penalty could be critical.

However, with Ferrari and McLaren continuing to look rapid week in, week out, Red Bull may have no other option to ensure that they stay in the fight and maximise their performance for the rest of the season.

Speaking ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Verstappen explained that he hadn’t “heard anything yet, it’s not discussed”, adding: “I know that I’ll have to take one at some point, so we’ll see.”

With the overtaking opportunities on offer in Brazil – as demonstrated by its selection as one of six venues to hold a Sprint this season – this weekend may be the best opportunity for the 27-year-old to race back through the field.

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Quizzed on whether this circuit is a good option, he said: “Honestly, it’s something that is always unknown. You think that one particular track is the best place to take an engine or whatever penalty, but it’s never guaranteed. It’s a possibility.”

After a tumultuous round last time out in Mexico that saw him cross the line in P6, Verstappen will be aiming to make the most of the sole practice session on Friday ahead of Sprint Qualifying, especially with Red Bull struggling to find consistent pace.

His engine issues saw him miss a notable chunk of the opening practice sessions at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which had a knock-on effect over the weekend to impact his race performance.

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“I think in general we probably lack a little bit of pace, for sure,” Verstappen reflected. “It could have been a lot better. Unfortunately we didn’t get to really understand that in the long runs.

“It was very painful, especially when it’s a tight battle with some teams and you’re a bit on the back foot. You really need to maximise everything that you can and we couldn’t do that in Mexico.”