Max Verstappen starts 21st at Sao Paulo Grand Prix after power unit change
Max Verstappen will start 21st at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after Red Bull fitted a new power unit to his car. The Dutch driver noted that the lack of DRS makes overtaking difficult, comparing the challenge to the Mexico City circuit.
Max Verstappen claims he has "lost 12 hours of my life I’ll never get back" following a chaotic qualifying session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The four-time world champion must start from 21st on the grid because Red Bull fitted his RB22 with an entirely new power unit. Torrential rain hit Interlagos, causing Q1 to be red-flagged almost immediately and delaying the session by over an hour. During this extended wait, Verstappen spent his time in the garage watching Premier League football. He reported seeing the final moments of a Nottingham Forest versus Manchester City match that ended 3-1 just before he returned to his car. Since he is starting last regardless of his lap times, the Dutchman admitted he could not enjoy the rest of the session. His mind was already set on Sunday’s race, so he focused on completing laps without risking anything. Every lap he completed showed strong pace, but he noted that this result came as no surprise to him.
A difficult path to the front
Verstappen does not expect to replicate his incredible charge through the field from 17th to victory in Sao Paulo in 2024. He explains that the removal of DRS makes overtaking significantly harder at this circuit. The current Overtake Mode is very limiting around here because of the long straight, where everyone drains their battery from the last corner to Turn 1. This reduces the speed difference on the straight, making it quite a lot harder to pass than normal. It will be a bit like Mexico really, according to the driver. Lewis Hamilton also starts at the back due to a power unit change, placing him one position ahead of Verstappen. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc starts 14th for a 10-grid place penalty, while Mercedes’ George Russell starts seventh after a five-place penalty for a new internal combustion engine. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff described the situation as an almost reverse grid race. Norris holds pole position for McLaren, with newly-crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli alongside him for Mercedes. Norris hopes for a dark, gloomy day to fight Antonelli, believing wet conditions give him a better chance. Antonelli feels good in both dry and wet conditions and is open to any weather. Russell expressed confidence in his wet pace, hoping for rain to increase his chances of a strong result. Leclerc learned a lot from experimenting with set-up tweaks during the wet qualifying, feeling he can fight for much better than top six if they find the right window. The race lights out at 5pm Sunday, offering a clear opportunity for drivers to climb the field despite the challenging track dynamics.
