SAO PAULO — Max Verstappen, the driver for Red Bull, is set to face a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix due to his decision to change his engine once again. This adjustment may open the door for McLaren’s Lando Norris to chip away at Verstappen’s substantial 47-point lead in the driver standings.

The FIA confirmed Verstappen’s decision to modify his engine on Friday, coinciding with the free practice sessions at the Interlagos circuit. It is standard for drivers to be permitted four engines throughout a race season.

Previously, Verstappen had already incurred a 10-place grid penalty after surpassing the allowed number of engines at July’s Belgian Grand Prix—making this his fifth engine change of the season. Despite these setbacks, the three-time Formula 1 world champion maintains his position at the top of the leaderboard with four races remaining in this year’s championship.

During a press conference on Thursday, Verstappen had voiced uncertainty about whether he would proceed with an engine change for the Brazilian event, indicating that the decision was not taken lightly.