Formula One: Engine penalties 'not reasonable' feels Max Verstappen

Red Bull driver and leading Championship contender Max Verstappen has said that the system for implementing engine penalties should be reviewed as they do not make sense in the current scenario, calling it 'something to be looked into'.

"The first time it's 10 places back and after that it's five, and I find that a bit illogical," he told Motorsports.com. "If you keep taking engine penalties, I think it should just stay the same [number of grid places], because you're going over the same limit all the time."

Under the current FIA rules, engine penalties are applied when a driver exceeds their allotment of component changes for the season, which is three. After the limit is exceeded, penalties will be applied to each component changed, usually a five-place drop down the grid for each change. But taking any element over the limit for the first time means a 10-place grid drop.

Verstappen pointed out that the five place drop was a small price to pay for improved performance, noting that in the Turkish Grand Prix most of the other teams did not have an answer for the Red Bull or Mercedes pace after taking new engine parts. In Brazil, Hamilton's five place grid penalty for his new Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) did not stop him from dominating the race and carrying through to a flying first place finish.

Back-to-back wins at Brazil and the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix have allowed Hamilton to chip away at Verstappen's Driver's Championship lead to just 8 points. The next race in Abu Dhabi will most probably see either clinch the title, with the finale in Jeddah a formality, depending on how either of the two drivers finishes.

Red Bull is still raising red flags over the immense straight-line speed of the Mercedes which they feel is due to the rear wing which failed a DRS inspection at the Sao Paolo circuit. The clash between the two temas has reached off-track as Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was forced to apologise for making insulting remarks about FIA marshals who gave Verstappen a five-place penalty for ignoring double-yellow flags at the Qatar GP.