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Verstappen jokes about Red Bull shifting trouble: ‘Shift, or you’ll get a penalty’

Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-11-06GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration

After the shifting issue came up again in Friday’s second practice, Verstappen joked that he might have to tell the clutch to shift or face a penalty.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · · 1 min

Max Verstappen turned Red Bull’s shifting trouble into a radio joke during Friday’s second practice for the São Paulo Grand Prix. After race engineer Tom Hart said the gearbox should now be working better, Verstappen joked that he might have to tell the clutch: “Shift, or you’ll get a penalty!”

Verstappen had complained about steering and shifting in first practice, and the gear-change problem came up again in the second session. He was initially frustrated that things were not working as he wanted. Hart had first said no fix seemed apparent, although the gearbox appeared to be improving.

Verstappen nevertheless set the third-fastest time in both of Friday’s practice sessions.

Sources 01
  1. SOURCEVerstappen grapt over Red Bull-problemen: "Anders krijg je straf!"RacingNews365 Nederland