Max Verstappen delivered another standout performance in the rain at the Brazilian Grand Prix, racing from the back of the grid to finish second.
The Red Bull driver, who started from 21st position following power unit issues, drove through the treacherous conditions at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace to secure his latest podium in São Paulo.
A Rapid Rise Through the Field
While Lewis Hamilton, who also started near the back, gained 11 positions in the first lap, Verstappen was held up in traffic and settled into 13th, according to F1journaal.be – Dagelijks Formule 1 nieuws. The driver later attributed the slow start to a mistake with his clutch, which forced him to correct his launch at the last moment.
By the third lap, however, Verstappen had moved past Hamilton and began slicing through the midfield. “Binnen twee ronden vloog ik zowat iedereen voorbij, bijna in iedere bocht,” Verstappen told F1journaal.be – Dagelijks Formule 1 nieuws.
“We hadden duidelijk veel meer grip dan de meeste auto’s in het middenveld.” By the end of his charge, he had completed 18 overtakes to reach second place, finishing 15 seconds behind race winner Lando Norris, as reported by Sporza.
Mastery of Wet Conditions at Interlagos
The São Paulo circuit has long been a venue where Verstappen excels in variable weather. His history at the track includes a 2016 performance where, as an 18-year-old, he drove through a rain-soaked race to reach the podium, and a 2024 victory from the 15th starting position, according to Motorsport.com.
Verstappen explained that the track’s unique elevation changes and multiple racing lines provide more opportunities for drivers willing to take risks. “Je moet je goed voelen in de auto. Je moet je comfortabel voelen om waarschijnlijk net iets meer risico te kunnen nemen, en dat heeft hier voor mij behoorlijk goed gewerkt,” he told Motorsport.com.
He said that while the car felt balanced during the initial stint, the handling shifted significantly once the team switched to slick tires.
Technical Challenges After the First Stint
Despite the successful climb, Verstappen expressed frustration regarding the car’s performance in the latter half of the race. He reported that after moving to slick tires, he encountered extreme oversteer in high-speed corners, making the vehicle difficult to control.
“We moeten begrijpen of er iets kapot is gegaan, want dit was niet normaal,” Verstappen told Sporza. “Het voelde compleet anders dan de rest van het weekend.”
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said that Verstappen’s pace during the opening laps defied the team’s pre-race computer simulations, which did not account for such a rapid progression through the field, as reported by F1journaal.be – Dagelijks Formule 1 nieuws.
Looking ahead, the four-time world champion expressed a hope for a more straightforward race weekend in 2027. “Misschien zou ik volgend jaar graag iets verder naar voren starten in plaats van achteraan of vanuit de pitstraat,” he told Motorsport.com.
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