Max Verstappen rues ‘terrible’ Brazil GP Sprint Qualifying with ‘undriveable’ Red Bull
Max Verstappen expressed frustration after finishing only sixth in qualifying for the Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix Sprint Race, describing his Red Bull as “undriveable.” The Dutch driver struggled with the RB21 at Interlagos, where he had previously performed well, finding it far off the pace compared to both McLaren and Mercedes cars.
Verstappen was not only behind the drivers from those teams but also trailed Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin, leaving him in an unusual and disadvantageous spot on the grid.
Verstappen’s explanation after the session
“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.”
He noted that despite ongoing setup struggles, the handling issues were worse than usual. The RB21’s instability made it impossible to extract more performance, especially in the technical middle section of the lap.
Last year Verstappen managed a stunning victory at the same circuit in wet conditions with a less competitive car, but this time, he was clearly dissatisfied with Red Bull’s performance.
Author’s Summary
Verstappen’s struggles in Brazil underline Red Bull’s handling issues as he battles vibration, grip, and balance problems that kept him off the front rows in São Paulo.