Max Verstappen will not be starting from the sixteenth position in the upcoming São Paulo Grand Prix, but from the pit lane instead. After a disastrous qualifying round, the Dutchman was eliminated in Q1 for the first time since 2021. Reportedly, Red Bull has reworked the RB21 for the main race, opting for an engine change and new adjustments to the setup. As a result, Verstappen is required to start from the pit lane.
Following the disappointment on Saturday – where Verstappen failed to qualify among the top fifteen for the first time in his Formula 1 career – Red Bull sounded the alarm. Helmut Marko confirmed that the team might change the setup to give Verstappen a chance in the main race. According to De Telegraaf, the team ultimately chose a new engine and adjustments to the setup.
Yuki Tsunoda
Teammate Yuki Tsunoda will not be starting from the pit lane, reports the newspaper. He recorded the slowest time on Saturday, but will now move up to P19. The Japanese driver tested the setup adjustments that Verstappen used during the qualifying round in the sprint race. However, Tsunoda stated that Verstappen’s performance was not due to his setup. According to him, the lack of speed was a result of the tires that Red Bull used.
It remains to be seen what Verstappen can achieve from the pit lane. Last year, he won the race from P17, but then it was pouring rain throughout the race. The chance of rain on Sunday is significantly smaller. Meanwhile, title rival Lando Norris starts from pole position and sees opportunities to further extend his lead in the standings. The difference between them is still 39 World Championship points after the sprint race.
