Budget Cap Shadows Over the Red Bull Comeback in Brazil

The F1 Brazil GP was packed with twists and turns, setting a clearer direction for the Red Bull championship. Norris extended his lead over both Piastri and Verstappen, while his McLaren teammate once again lost crucial points. He finished with zero in the Sprint Race and fifth in Sunday’s main event.

Max Verstappen, meanwhile, managed to limit the damage. After qualifying only 16th and starting from the pit lane with a brand-new Power Unit, the Dutchman impressively climbed back to third place. Only behind Norris and Italy’s Kimi Antonelli.

The decision to start from the pit lane could prove to be a strategic masterstroke for the remainder of the season. However, one team has already raised concerns over Red Bull’s move. And here’s why.

McLaren wants to further investigate the cost issue

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has called on the FIA to launch an investigation into Red Bull’s Power Unit switch. The Italian engineer wants the Federation to verify whether the new Power Unit installed on Verstappen’s car complies with the budget cap or if it exceeds the approximately €130 million spending limit imposed on teams.

Installing a fresh Power Unit for the final three races could allow Red Bull to extract more power without compromising reliability. A crucial aspect given that teams are limited to just four Power Units per season.

According to Formula 1’s cost cap regulations, the maximum Power Unit supply price — €15 million — can be excluded from the overall cap. However, additional Power Unit components beyond the permitted allocation may incur extra charges.

As such, since these extra costs are not explicitly exempt, Red Bull’s decision to completely replace Verstappen’s Power Unit could impact the team’s overall yearly budget.

Red Bull can push hard in the final 3 F1 races

In any case, the Austrian team’s strategic move deserves attention. Seeing their qualifying session compromised, Red Bull took a gamble, and it paid off. Verstappen’s climb to third place was remarkable, featuring numerous overtakes, many achieved without DRS assistance.

Nevertheless, according to some sources, the mileage on these Power Units does not significantly affect their overall power output.

Still, Verstappen’s comeback keeps him mathematically in the title fight, despite trailing Norris by 49 points. With three F1 races remaining, the McLaren driver could mathematically seal the World Championship as early as the next round.