Huge Lando Norris F1 title boost as Max Verstappen slapped with five-place grid penalty for Sao Paulo Grand Prix

MAX VERSTAPPEN will take a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race in Brazil in a boost for McLaren title rival Lando Norris.

The penalty comes after Red Bull put a new engine in his car.

Max Verstappen has been hit with a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Verstappen will be using his sixth internal combustion engine for the race at Interlagos, his second such breach of the season.

The move had been expected after the Dutchman finished sixth at last weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko revealed there was a leak in the engine’s intake tract on Sunday.

Verstappen’s grid penalty will boost Norris’ hopes of reducing the Dutchman’s 47-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

With the Sao Paulo Grand Prix being a Sprint track, Interlagos will host a shortened race on Saturday.

But Verstappen’s penalty only applies to Sunday’s full-length contest.

Meanwhile, Norris topped the only practice session in Sao Paulo Grand earlier today, with qualifying due to start at 6:30pm.

Verstappen leads Norris with four races of the season remaining.

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The three-time champ aborted his only attempt at a flying lap on soft tyres and finished 15th in practice.

Verstappen was given two 10-second time penalties for being overly aggressive in wheel-to-wheel combat with Norris last Sunday.

He finished 59 seconds down on race-winner Carlos Sainz in Mexico, so even without the penalties, would have been fourth at best.

The Dutchman, who has not won since June’s Spanish Grand Prix, did not want to go into details about the incidents and was more concerned about Red Bull’s lack of pace.

Each driver is entitled to use four power units throughout the course of the season and face grid penalties for exceeding the limit.

Verstappen incurred a 10-place grid penalty after taking his fifth engine of the season at the Belgian Grand Prix in July.

Red Bull’s decision to take the penalty in Brazil will have been largely motivated by the many straightforward overtaking opportunities the circuit presents.

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Huge Lando Norris F1 title boost as Max Verstappen slapped with five-place grid penalty for Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Huge Lando Norris F1 title boost as Max Verstappen slapped with five-place grid penalty for Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Huge Lando Norris F1 title boost as Max Verstappen slapped with five-place grid penalty for Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Huge Lando Norris F1 title boost as Max Verstappen slapped with five-place grid penalty for Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Huge Lando Norris F1 title boost as Max Verstappen slapped with five-place grid penalty for Sao Paulo Grand Prix