Everything hangs by a thread in Brazil
The championship is not yet decided. Max Verstappen is 36 points off Lando Norris. There are 33 points to be earned in Brazil this weekend, including the sprint. That makes the situation prone to a big swing.
The chances of Verstappen scoring maximum and Norris grabbing nothing are slim. Still, such a scenario is not impossible. Less than a fortnight ago, Verstappen took advantage of a sprint weekend in the United States when the two McLarens eliminated each other on Saturday. As a result, he gained considerably on Oscar Piastri.
Motors and penalty rules: how it works
Engine rules play a role again. Since the homologation freeze, engines seem to differ less. Nevertheless, they still count. Teams are only allowed to use a limited number of parts. For the most important parts, the limit has been reached among the frontrunners.
Key components
- V6 engine
- MGU-H
- Turbo
- MGU-K
- Control electronics
- Battery
If a driver uses one extra part, a grid penalty of 10 places usually follows. For more than 15-place penalties, you will start from the back of the field. That penalty applies to the main race, not just the sprint.
What this means for Verstappen and McLaren
All three title contenders have already used the maximum of free parts. That makes the final races extra exciting. An engine change could change everything.
Verstappen had a similar penalty in Brazil last year. He started at the back, but then took an impressive win in the rain. Back then, the penalty made little difference. Now such a deficit would weigh much more heavily in the title race.
The same risk applies to McLaren. Lando Norris suffered engine problems a few races ago and had to retire at Zandvoort. An oil pipe problem caused the system to shut down the engine to prevent greater damage. Mercedes and McLaren investigated the matter thoroughly. For now, they are calm and are not planning an additional engine change.
Internal pressure at McLaren
The two McLaren drivers are close. They are just one point apart. That leads to a lot of attention and also questions about equality within the team. A technical setback would not only affect the title race. It could also fuel speculation about team relations.
Qualifying has been extra important this year. In 14 of the 20 races, the McLaren driver who started at the front also finished ahead of his teammate. A grid penalty changes that dynamic immediately.
Historical perspective and reliability
Engines used to determine the difference much more often. In the turbo-hybrid era, engines could give big gains or losses. Since the homologation freeze, performance has become more even. Still, there are differences in reliability and longevity.
Honda built a very robust engine by the time Verstappen took his first world title. As a result, there was little concern about power degradation over its lifetime. Mercedes recognised in the past that their engine lost power after many miles. Therefore, they took measures at the time to avoid ending up without power in key moments of a season.
Whether those problems have been completely resolved is hard to say. For now, Mercedes has been very successful as a supplier for McLaren, with titles in 2024 and 2025 for the constructor team. But now that a customer team is in the driver's race, engine issues may become relevant again.
Conclusion: small cause, big impact
The title race could be tilted by one engine change. The difference is small. That makes the remaining four races extra exciting. Both camps will do everything to perform perfectly. But a grid penalty or an unexpected engine stop could still turn the outcome upside down.
EN 
NL 
DE