Verstappen receives grid penalty for Brazilian Grand Prix

Posted : 01 November 2024

Max Verstappen faced a setback in his world title defense on Friday, receiving a five-place grid penalty for the Brazilian Grand Prix. This penalty was issued because he chose to install a new engine in his car, marking the sixth engine he has used this season, surpassing the allowed limit of four.

This latest development comes at a critical time, as Verstappen's aspirations for a fourth consecutive world championship have been challenged by McLaren's Lando Norris, who is currently 47 points behind with only four races remaining in the season. Verstappen's recent performance has also been affected by penalties, including a 10-second penalty twice during last week's Mexican Grand Prix, where he finished sixth after aggressive driving incidents that forced Norris off the track.

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In Friday's practice session, Norris showcased his speed, clocking the fastest lap for McLaren just before the end of the session. He finished ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, with Haas driver Oliver Bearman rounding out the top three, making it a strong showing for British drivers in the opening practice. Norris completed his best lap in one minute and 10.610 seconds, narrowly beating Russell by 0.181 seconds, while Bearman finished just 0.191 seconds behind.

Verstappen struggled during the practice, placing 15th overall in his second Red Bull car. He did not push for a flying lap in the closing minutes, opting instead to conserve his tires. This strategy may have contributed to his lower placement in the timesheets, as other drivers aggressively pursued faster times.

Williams driver Alex Albon finished the practice session in fifth place, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, the winners of the last two races in Texas and Mexico, followed closely behind. Nico Hulkenberg from Haas secured eighth place, showcasing a competitive field as teams prepare for the race weekend.

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso returned to Aston Martin after receiving treatment for a stomach bug, managing to secure ninth place in practice. Meanwhile, Pierre Gasly rounded out the top ten for Alpine, demonstrating his consistency and readiness for the upcoming race.

Like Verstappen, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes did not set a flying lap, instead focusing on running medium tires for most of the session. He ended up in 16th place, while Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez finished 19th, facing similar challenges throughout the practice.

Verstappen receives grid penalty for Brazilian Grand Prix

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