LANDO NORRIS has received a huge boost to his Formula One title bid after it was revealed that Max Verstappen will receive a grid penalty.
The McLaren driver closed the gap to his Red Bull rival down to 47 points at the Mexico Grand Prix with just four race weekends to go, starting with this weekend’s race and sprint in Brazil.
GettyLando Norris has received a title boost after it was revealed Max Verstappen will take a grid penalty[/caption]
GettyHelmut Marko has confirmed Verstappen will take a new penalty[/caption]
However, Norris‘ title hopes have received a big boost going into the weekend after it was revealed that the Dutchman will be taking a grid penalty at Interlagos.
Following unconfirmed reports about taking a new engine, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has now confirmed Verstappen will have a new power unit fitted.
It comes after the three-time world champion experienced engine issues at the Mexico City race last weekend, with Marko revealing there was a leak in the engine’s intake tract.
While drivers are given an allowance for new engine parts across the season due to general wear and tear and potential crashes, the new power unit will fall outside of the allowance.
Verstappen has already taken the maximum allocation of four allocated turbochargers, MGU-H, and MGU-Ks, as well as two energy stores and control electronics.
And that means that while the 27-year-old should be granted a boost in performance from the new parts, he will have to fight his way through the field following a grid drop in Sao Paulo.
Marko told Speedweek: “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.
“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.
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“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.”
Verstappen previously served a 10-place penalty in Belgium for taking an entirely new power unit.
While the full range of the penalty has not been confirmed, taking a new internal combustion engine will see Verstappen take a five-place grid drop.
Meanwhile, taking a new turbocharger, MGU-H or MGU-K component will trigger a further 10-place penalty. A full engine change would see the Dutchman start at the back of the grid.
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Any penalty will apply solely to Sunday’s feature race, meaning Verstappen will not be penalised during Saturday’s Sprint race.
Last weekend’s race in Mexico saw Verstappen handed a 20-second time penalty for running Norris off track, while the week prior had seen Norris handed a five-second penalty in a similar situation.
Mercedes driver George Russell has said 19 out of the 20 drivers want the racing guidelines to be immediately clarified with a new wording following inconsistent application of the rules.
Meanwhile, the Sao Paulo circuit has been completely resurfaced for the race after a £22million investment.
Organisers have also confirmed the running of a special tribute event for Ayrton Senna 30 years on from his death, with Lewis Hamilton set to run a lap in the Brazilian’s 1990 McLaren car.
F1 reporter Isabelle Barker’s prediction
I EXPECT Max Verstappen to go all guns blazing over the next six-rounds. I also think his experience and aggression could give him the edge.
It seems too little too late for Norris showing consistency, despite that dominant win in Singapore last time out.
You can’t help think what could have been had he sorted out his first-lap issues sooner.
Norris needs to prove he has the mental fortitude, because we all know he’s got the speed, the team and the fastest car.
Verstappen has endured an eight-race winless streak, but he has still managed to score points, with three second-places during that time.
So I think the Dutchman will lift his fourth world-title this season, by the skin of his teeth.
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