F1 LIVE: Michael Schumacher makes public appearance as Max Verstappen faces major penalty
As the days tick over ahead of the United States Grand Prix, there are plenty of intriguing storylines to follow in the F1 world. Both McLaren and Red Bull are hard at work as they continued to apply updates to their cars.
For Red Bull, round 19 of the season will be critical. The Milton Keynes-based team are bringing their final major upgrade package of the year with the hopes of reeling McLaren back in and stopping Lando Norris from running away with the World Championship.
The 24-year-old currently trails Drivers’ Championship leader Max Verstappen by 52 points, but after winning the race in Singapore by over 20 seconds while easy off in the closing stages, it is clear that Norris’ advantage is nothing short of alarming.
Verstappen risking power unit grid penalty
Max Verstappen could be facing a grid penalty before the end of the season, according to former F1 driver Christijan Albers.
The three-time world champion is already at five internal combustion engines for the season – one over the permitted allocation – and Albers expects the Dutchman to need another engine outside of his allowance before the season ends.
“That could be a hit,” Albers told De Telegraaf. “Then I would get it in Brazil, one hundred per cent. You’re not going to do that in Austin. I would get it in Brazil, that’s better with that long straight, and that’s better with the DRS. They have that in Austin too, but that’s a close call.”
Schumacher ‘makes public appearance’ after 11 years
Michael Schumacher reportedly made his first public appearance in 11 years last weekend, attending the wedding of daughter Gina, and Iain Bethke.
The legendary seven-time world champion has been absent from the public eye since suffering a life-changing brain injury while skiing with son Mick in 2013.
According to reports from the German media, it was ‘very likely’ that he was present at the union last weekend, which took place at the family’s Mallorca villa.
