P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull’s decision to change Max Verstappen’s engine ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix has drawn the attention of McLaren.
Red Bull’s chief engineer stated that he was not surprised by the decision to give Max Verstappen a fresh power unit in Brazil, likening it to “rolling a hand grenade” into the situation. Red Bull decided to replace Verstappen’s power unit after he was eliminated in Q1 in Sao Paulo, despite knowing the resulting penalty. McLaren asked the FIA to clarify if Red Bull’s new engine would fall under the F1 cost cap regulations. While the regulations are not clear on whether a new engine for performance reasons is included in the cost cap, teams operate under FIA guidance. Red Bull could reuse the original engine if needed, but it was changed based on advice from Honda. Chief engineer Paul Monaghan defended the decision, asserting that it was justified and legitimate, and that they can justify their actions if questioned. Monaghan did not confirm if the engine change was within the cost cap, stating he is not a finance regulation expert but believes they can defend their actions without penalty at the end of the year.
