P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren has questioned Red Bull’s decision to fit a new power unit to Max Verstappen’s car in Brazil, and whether it falls under the cost cap.
Max Verstappen’s impressive performance in the São Paulo Grand Prix, advancing from the pit lane to third place, has sparked debates about Red Bull’s strategy regarding power unit penalties. Despite a challenging qualifying session resulting in Verstappen starting from the pit lane, changing to a new power unit turned out to be a successful move. Red Bull’s decision has garnered attention from other teams, with McLaren’s Andrea Stella questioning the rationale behind the engine change for performance reasons, citing potential impacts on the cost cap. Stella highlighted that McLaren would not opt for an engine change solely for performance gain due to the limited degradation of modern engines with mileage and the resulting penalties in positions. He also raised concerns about the compliance of such changes with regulations, emphasizing the importance of transparency regarding the cost implications within the cost cap framework. Ultimately, McLaren’s approach aligns with a cautious stance towards power unit changes to navigate the delicate balance between performance gains and regulatory considerations.
