Max Verstappen left jaws on the floor in Sunday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the four-time world champion clawing his way from the ignominy of a pitlane start to a podium finish that had even him gobsmacked.
In a weekend that began with frustration and confusion over Red Bull’s lack of pace, Verstappen’s improbable top three finish felt almost like a victory.
“The race was quite full on. A lot of action. I had to overtake some cars coming from the pitlane,” he said after climbing from his car, beaming in disbelief.
From Setback to Sensation
Red Bull entered Sunday in damage-limitation mode after pulling Verstappen’s car out of parc fermé to change its setup and fit new power unit components, forcing him to start from the pitlane. The odds of a podium seemed laughably slim – and yet, by lap 71, that improbabele result was achieved.
“Our pace was quite strong, over all the stints. To be on the podium, I did not expect that at all, even with a puncture at the beginning, that's why we had to box again,” Verstappen said, recalling his early setback.
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What followed was a masterclass in controlled aggression: relentless overtakes, razor-sharp tyre management, and relentless pace that saw him climb into podium contention. “Incredible result for us. Very happy with that. Very proud of everyone,” he added.
Never Give Up
After Saturday’s disastrous Q1 exit – one of Red Bull’s worst qualifying showings in decades – Verstappen’s Sunday comeback felt like a rebirth.
“Yesterday was very tough. We never give up. We always try to improve and find more lap time and luckily we found that again today,” he said.
In the final laps, Verstappen hunted down Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who was enjoying a career-best drive in second, but the young Italian held firm. Still, Verstappen’s sheer speed stunned even himself: “To finish only 10 seconds from the lead is incredible.”
Still in the Fight
While Lando Norris cruised to victory from pole, Verstappen’s performance was arguably the story of the day – a defiant statement from a driver who refuses to fade quietly from title contention.
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The result lifted Red Bull to third in the constructors’ standings, just 32 points behind Mercedes, despite Yuki Tsunoda’s struggles down the order.
For Verstappen, the comeback wasn’t just about points – it was about pride.
After a weekend that started with despair, he leaves Brazil with his trademark fire rekindled and the belief that, even when everything goes wrong, he can still make the impossible look routine.
Read also:
São Paulo GP: Norris wins – Verstappen stuns with pitlane to P3!
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