Max Verstappen heads into the F1 São Paulo GP determined to look on from a podium finish in Mexico. The four-time World Champion admitted that Red Bull struggled to find the right set-up at altitude, but said he’s confident of a stronger showing at Interlagos.
Learning from Mexico
Verstappen admitted that the Mexico race exposed weaknesses in the RB21. Speaking in a print media session on Thursday ahead of the F1 São Paulo GP, he didn’t shy away from calling it what it was.
“That was not good, yeah, that’s clear,” he said bluntly.
Reflecting on why the car struggled, Verstappen explained that performance can vary depending on track characteristics. The Dutchman had finished ahead of both McLarens at the previous four rounds.
“I think it’s a bit like where other places we have performed really well and maybe McLaren didn’t get the most out of it. Sometimes the track also just suits the car a little bit better and it’s clear that we are not good everywhere yet,” he said.
He remains optimistic about how the different layout in Brazil could play to Red Bull’s strengths. The Dutchman continued: “I hope that this weekend will be a bit different. It’s a completely different track layout and behaviour as well, with the altitude here too, so we’ll see what we get.”
Staying in the title fight
After Mexico, Max Verstappen sits third in the standings 36 points behind the leader, chasing McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. With only four rounds left, he knows every point matters.
“We had some good rounds where the gap came down, but now to the end, it’s still a pretty big gap,” he said.
“I need to score a lot more points every single weekend, which is not that straightforward.”
With four races to go, the Dutchman dug into the mindset required to claw his way back: “I mean if you would give me 2023 season with how everything was and you tell me I’m 36 points behind with four races to go I’m like ‘yeah no problem, easy.’ But this season of course has been a little bit different so it comes down to us optimising everything and nailing the weekend.”
He accepts that he might need a touch of fortune: “Probably we need a little bit of luck on one round you know to create a bigger offset but we’re going to give it all and if that’s going to be enough at the end of the year I don’t know but there’s also not much to lose. I mean worst case we have P3 and best case you can win a championship.”
Calm and confident
Max Verstappen leaned into his experience and undercut the pressure-narrative.
“Yeah for me there’s no pressure I mean even if I don’t win it I still know that I drove a really good season and I can happily say that.”
He reflected on how remarkable it is merely to still be in contention.
“To try and replicate the season that I’ve done with people on the grid I think it will be very tough so you just need to be realistic in the chances that we had throughout the season I mean to still be talking about being in this fight I think is already remarkable in the first place and yeah for sure it has to do with the turnaround of the team you know they never gave up and that’s the strength of the team but nevertheless I think at one point when you’re over 100 points behind and then still we’re talking about you know being in this fight I think is very impressive.”
This isn’t self-congratulation but strategic poise. He positions himself as ready, not panicked.
Unity at Red Bull vs. McLaren’s internal theatre
Verstappen highlighted Red Bull’s strength in cohesion as a weapon in the title fight.
He said: “I think in a way of course it’s nice you know but of course being part of the team already for a very long time you get to know each other really well we’ve had already a lot of success together so yeah there is an opportunity of course that we can win it so we are going for it you know all in.”
He then contrasted that with McLaren’s internal dynamics: “For sure the distraction maybe it’s a little bit there at McLaren between the two drivers but at the same time they still have a very fast car so if you would tell me what I would like to have give me the distraction I don’t care anyway you know you just give me the fastest car and I’ll drive it as fast as it needs to be so yeah it’s it can be nice for me.”
The Red Bull driver laid out his simple goal: “We just need to make sure that we have a faster car you know we need to be ahead of them it’s as simple as that.”
Interlagos could be exactly the place to reignite the fight. Verstappen’s form at Interlagos shows why the F1 São Paulo GP could spark his comeback. He’s taken five podiums in his last six races here, including dominant wins in 2019, 2023 and 2024.
