Starting from the twenty-first position due to a thirty-place grid penalty for a power unit change, Max Verstappen powered his Red Bull Racing machine to a remarkable second-place finish in the rain-soaked Formula 1 Grand Prix of São Paulo on Sunday, GPFans reported.
Verstappen admitted he had doubts while exiting the pit lane for the reconnaissance laps to the grid at Autódromo José Carlos Pace, but his perception shifted rapidly once surrounded by other cars.
“Na de ronden richting de grid voelde ik me behoorlijk zelfverzekerd. Ik reed naar buiten en dacht eerst dat er weinig grip was, maar toen ik eenmaal wat auto’s om me heen had, dacht ik: ‘Nee, volgens mij hebben we juist heel veel grip,’” Verstappen explained.
The four-time world champion pointed to balance as a key factor in his early charge, though he said that the handling advantage faded significantly after the first stint. Starting from the back of the field presented immediate hurdles, including a poor reaction time off the line due to a clutch misapplication that he shouldered as his own mistake.
Traffic in the opening three corners further congested his progress, frustrating him initially as he watched Lewis Hamilton carve cleanly through the spray on the opening lap. Once released on intermediate tires, however, Verstappen surged through the order to reach twelfth position by the end of the first lap.
Rain Offers Tactical Lifelines in Sao Paulo
The heavy downpour at Interlagos historically favors drivers willing to explore alternative lines, a dynamic that Verstappen utilized to slice through the midfield within two laps. “Als je zo ver naar achteren start, moet je proberen zo snel mogelijk langs de jongens voor je te komen,” Verstappen told GPFans that the wet asphalt provided passing opportunities that would not exist in the dry.
Lando Norris ultimately secured victory for McLaren from pole position, crossing the finish line with a 14.602-second advantage. While Verstappen acknowledged Norris’s superior pace, veteran observer Juan Pablo Montoya noted in an AS Colombia podcast covered by F1maximaal that even without early traffic delays, Verstappen likely lacked the outright speed to challenge the McLaren driver for the win.
Montoya observed that while wet weather once prompted immediate discussion only around Verstappen’s wet-weather prowess, Norris has demonstrated immense growth and command in similar conditions over recent seasons. Former F1 team boss Gian Carlo Minardi similarly praised Norris’s clean control while highlighting Verstappen’s relentless charge from the back row in his commentary on his official website, as noted by RacingNews365.
Verstappen Battles Oversteer on Slick Tires
Verstappen’s competitive afternoon hit a technical roadblock as the circuit dried and the field transitioned to slick tires. “Maar zodra ik op de slicks overstapte, had ik in de snelle bochten een extreme mate van overstuur, waardoor het supermoeilijk werd,” Verstappen told GPFans, adding that the team needed to inspect the chassis for potential downforce losses because the balance behavior was abnormal.
Despite handling limitations that persisted through the majority of the Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver defended his position to secure championship points. The result elevated his season total to 279 points, maintaining his second place in the drivers’ standings behind Kimi Antonelli, who leads with 390 points.
In the constructors’ championship, Mercedes cemented its title with 652 points, followed by Ferrari with 510 points and Red Bull Racing in third with 415 points, narrowly ahead of McLaren on 398 points.
Analysts Weigh in on 2027 and Beyond
Looking ahead to future regulation eras, Formula 1 Jeroen Bleekemolen suggested in a NOS Sport podcast that Verstappen remains his primary pick for the 2027 world championship title, citing stability and driver caliber amid shifting team dynamics. Former Ferrari race engineer Ernest Knoors echoed these sentiments in the same discussion, pointing out that Mercedes’ recent upgrade path introduced internal questions following a difficult weekend in Brazil where the team struggled for pace.
Verstappen echoed a desire for a cleaner start next season after spending the last three years fighting from deep in the pack at Interlagos, where his starting positions have consistently forced heroic recovery drives. With the championship trail moving swiftly toward the next round, the teams prepare for the upcoming Grand Prix in Las Vegas.
