Max Verstappen rues ‘terrible’ F1 Brazil GP Sprint Qualifying with ‘undriveable’ Red Bull

Max Verstappen Disappointed with F1 Brazil GP Sprint Qualifying

Max Verstappen expressed frustration after a disappointing qualifying session for the Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix Sprint Race, where he finished only sixth fastest. He described his Red Bull RB21 as “undriveable” and struggled to handle the car, which he said was far behind the competition from McLaren and Mercedes.

Challenges During Qualifying

Verstappen was not only slower than drivers from McLaren and Mercedes but also behind Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin, putting him in an unusually poor grid position and starting on the less favorable dirty side of the track.

“No, I mean, yeah, a lot of vibration in the car, a lot of just ride problems,” he said. “So, yeah, not what we want, but I mean, besides that, I think also we just don’t have the grip.

The middle sector is terrible, so I just can’t get the car to turn, but at the same time also I can’t really rely on the rear. So, yeah, for us it’s just quite poor, I would say.”

Performance Context

This struggle at Interlagos continued a pattern from recent races where Verstappen has had difficulty with the RB21’s performance. Despite these issues, Verstappen previously secured a remarkable win at the same circuit last year under wet conditions, even when driving a similarly uncompetitive car.

Summary

Verstappen’s difficulty with car balance and grip left him far behind rivals in Brazil, marking a rare low point in his recent form.

Author's note: Verstappen’s “undriveable” Red Bull at Brazil highlights ongoing struggles to match rival performance despite past success on this track.

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Motorsport Week Motorsport Week — 2025-11-07

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