Red Bull DEMOTED as FIA imposes several penalties on F1 champions

Red Bull Demoted as FIA Imposes Multiple Penalties on F1 Champions – Sports Base

The Red Bull Formula 1 team encountered a significant setback following their disappointing performance at the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix, which led to a notable demotion.

Earlier this season, during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, McLaren toppled the reigning constructors’ champions from their top spot. The team is now on track to claim its first championship since 1998. Due to steady performances by drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, McLaren progressively eroded Red Bull’s lead in the standings before ultimately surpassing them following Piastri’s win in Baku.

Following one of Red Bull’s most challenging weekends in recent memory, star driver Max Verstappen is at risk of losing his bid for a fourth consecutive drivers’ championship title. His experience during the Mexican GP was complicated by FIA controversies and a 20-second penalty.

Norris is currently in second place, just 47 points behind the Dutchman. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc remains a strong contender in third position. The remarkable performances of Leclerc and his soon-to-be former teammate Carlos Sainz have greatly enhanced Scuderia Ferrari’s prospects for the constructors’ title in Mexico City. With Sainz securing victory and Leclerc finishing P3, Red Bull has now been moved down to third place in the team standings as well.

This demotion is mainly due to the challenges faced by Christian Horner’s team with the FIA last weekend. Both Verstappen and his underperforming teammate, Sergio Perez, were penalized during the race. Despite this obstacle, Verstappen achieved a sixth-place finish; however, the substantial penalty probably cost him crucial points in what has essentially been a solo endeavor for him since Perez persistently finishes outside point-scoring positions—a situation that raises questions about his future within Formula 1