P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull hit back at McLaren’s concerns over Max Verstappen’s Brazil engine change
Red Bull defended their decision to give Max Verstappen a new engine for the São Paulo Grand Prix, calling it “legitimate” despite McLaren’s questioning.
Verstappen started from the pit lane in Brazil after an unexpected Q1 exit, allowing setup tweaks and a fresh engine.
McLaren raised concerns about the cost cap implications of the engine change, given the teams’ hesitance to exceed allocated power units.
The decision aimed to boost Verstappen’s performance in the title race, as he trails Norris by 49 points with three races left.
Red Bull’s chief engineer affirmed the decision’s validity, stating they have justified it internally and are prepared to defend it if questioned further on cost cap considerations.
