Max Verstappen will begin the Sao Paulo Grand Prix from the pit lane after Crimson Bull opted to make modifications to the automobile with a brand new energy unit.
Crimson Bull struggled in qualifying on Saturday, with each Verstappen and Hiroki Tsunoda dropping out at Q1 tempo, marking the primary time for the reason that 2006 Japanese Grand Prix that the group was unable to advance with both automobile. This was adopted by a flooring change for Verstappen. Verstappen ran the newest spec for the morning dash, then reverted to the earlier spec for qualifying.
The group had initially deliberate to experience out the top of the season and not using a new energy unit, however resulting from their authentic beginning place of sixteenth and the necessity to disrupt parc fermé situations to alter the suspension set-up, they opted to suit a brand new energy unit forward of Sunday’s race.
With only a set-up change requiring a pitlane begin, the brand new energy unit is successfully a free substitute for Crimson Bull and appears to offer Verstappen his finest likelihood of staying in rivalry for the drivers’ championship with three extra races remaining after Interlagos. Heading into Sunday’s race, he presently has a 39-point lead over championship chief Lando Norris, who will begin from pole place.
Verstappen’s automobile has a very new energy unit, whereas Esteban Ocon additionally has a brand new inner combustion engine (ICE) after qualifying seventeenth, that means he may even begin from the pit lane.
