Red Bull launches Verstappen engine investigation as penalty uncertainty grows

Red Bull Racing has launched an investigation into Max Verstappen's engine issues that arose during the qualifying session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he finished eighth. Verstappen reported problems with his internal combustion engine, which worsened throughout the session, prompting the team to replace several components before the race.

Despite the qualifying setback, Verstappen managed to race from eighth to second place in the Grand Prix, finishing just 0.196 seconds behind race winner George Russell. Team principal Laurent Mekies indicated that while Verstappen may face a power unit penalty in the future, it remains uncertain pending further analysis of the engine issues.