Verstappen’s Challenge at Interlagos

Max Verstappen is no stranger to battling for a podium finish at the end of Formula 1 races. However, starting the Sao Paulo Grand Prix from the back of the grid was a different story.

After a tough qualifying session on Saturday, where he got knocked out in Q1 due to a lack of pace, Red Bull made considerable adjustments to Verstappen’s RB21 under parc ferme rules. Consequently, he had to wait at the back of the grid until the race commenced from Interlagos’ pit lane.

As the lights went out, Verstappen was in 19th place, trailing only Esteban Ocon, who also started from the pit lane. By lap six, he had climbed to 13th and reached the points by lap 17, sitting in 10th place. He made his way into second position by lap 48, with Lando Norris as the only driver in front of him.

When Norris went for a pit stop on lap 50, Verstappen seized the lead. His race engineer, Giampiero Lambiase, communicated over the radio, “Max, I never thought I’d say this at the end of the pit lane earlier, but you’re the race leader now.” Verstappen simply replied, “Not bad.”

At that stage, Red Bull faced a decision. Verstappen was on C3 medium tires, which they had fitted during a pit stop on lap 34. The question loomed—could he make those tires last while holding off Norris, or would they bring him in for fresh ones for a final push?

They opted for an aggressive strategy. “Okay, Max, check the box and pit. Box, check the pit, we’re going to be aggressive. Strat 12 in the pit lane,” Lambiase instructed.

Red Bull brought Verstappen in on lap 54, choosing C4 soft tires for the last stint. He rejoined the race in fourth, with Norris, Kimi Antonelli, and George Russell ahead of him. As he got back on track, Lambiase told Verstappen, “It was a pretty weak tire this time, Max, yeah, good luck.” To which he responded, “Yes, we have nothing to lose.”

Verstappen began to close in on Russell, overtaking him on lap 63 for a return to the podium. He clocked a fast lap of 1:13.401 compared to Russell’s 1:14.943 and Antonelli’s 1:13.622. The pursuit didn’t stop there.

He then zeroed in on Antonelli, staying within the DRS range. On lap 69, while Antonelli recorded a time of 1:13.614, Verstappen managed 1:13.472. However, he couldn’t catch up, ultimately finishing in third place on a day when it seemed a podium finish was unlikely. Last year, he went from 17th to victory at Interlagos, but that was under rain-related chaos that allowed Alpine to capitalize with their own double podium.

This time, in dry conditions, Verstappen showcased his driving prowess, reminding everyone of his capabilities. After the race, Lambiase told him, “That was a race-winning drive.”

Red Bull’s team principal, Laurent Mekies, praised Verstappen for “his sensational run,” acknowledging that while he won from 17th place last year, this time achieving third from the pit lane was just as impressive, especially in an undramatic race.

Even the drivers chasing him acknowledged Verstappen’s outstanding performance. Antonelli expressed surprise at Verstappen’s comeback, indicating he didn’t see it coming during the race.

The post-race celebration featured fans singing in Verstappen’s honor on the podium. “It’s too stressful,” Antonelli remarked about the final laps, noting how close the competition was, especially when Verstappen’s new soft tires came into play.

Norris, who dominated the Sao Paulo weekend, won both the F1 sprint race and the Grand Prix, mentioning that if Verstappen had started from the front, he likely would have performed even better, although that’s just part of racing. For Norris, it was a successful weekend, gathering 34 points and solidifying his position for the title chase.

Looking ahead, the grid heads to Las Vegas, a street circuit where Red Bull has thrived recently, although it hasn’t been kind to McLaren. Norris reflected on past struggles at this track but remained optimistic about the progress they’ve made this year.

Ultimately, Verstappen’s performance in Sao Paulo underscores his talent. Although it highlighted the uphill battle he faces for a fifth drivers’ championship, his run on Sunday proved he’s still very much in the fight.