Penalty for Formula 1 world champion! Verstappen moved back five places

São Paulo (Brazil) - Max Verstappen has already suffered his next setback before the first laps on the legendary Formula 1 circuit in Interlagos, Brazil.

As if the Formula 1 world champion hadn't already received enough penalties recently. Max Verstappen (27) has now also been handed a penalty for the main race in Brazil.
As if the Formula 1 world champion hadn't already received enough penalties recently. Max Verstappen (27) has now also been handed a penalty for the main race in Brazil.  © Vincent Thian/AP/dpa

The three-time world champion's Red Bull needs a new engine, but the team has already exceeded the limit for Verstappen.

He will therefore be moved back five places on the grid for this Sunday's race (18:00 CET).

"We cannot avoid an engine change in Brazil, with a corresponding penalty," wrote Red Bull's motorsport consultant Helmut Marko in his column on the in-house portal speedweek.com.

For the 27-year-old Verstappen, this also means that he will probably have to catch up and overtake again in the race to prevent his lead over Lando Norris of McLaren - currently 47 points - from shrinking any further.

Father Jos Verstappen also gets involved

However, after the two world championship rivals have already clashed several times on the track this year and Verstappen recently received two time penalties and two penalty points for his uncompromising driving and defending, every new duel between the Dutchman and the Briton will provide further fuel for the fire.

Defends his son's driving style: Jos Verstappen (52).
ContentImage.Description   © Christian Bruna/Pool AP/dpa

"He has to do it that way because the car is not good enough. He does whatever it takes to win the title," said father Jos Verstappen (52) about his son's driving style and added with regard to the race stewards who impose the penalties: "He won't change his driving style just because there are a few stewards who don't like him."