News Summary
- Max Verstappen wants multiple Safety Car periods to keep the field close as he tries to recover from a rear-of-grid start.
- Red Bull’s power-unit changes incurred a 30-place grid penalty. Verstappen was third in Q1 but stayed in the garage for Q2.
- The Red Bull driver expects Overtake Mode to deliver less of a straight-line speed advantage at Interlagos than drivers had under the old rules.
Max Verstappen is hoping for several Safety Car periods in Sunday’s São Paulo Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver will start from the back of the grid after a 30-place power-unit penalty, and he wants the field to bunch up before the leaders can build a gap.
Asked by GRANDE PRÊMIO what would give him the best chance of repeating his 2024 victory, Verstappen said: “Lots of Safety Cars. So they can’t pull away. It keeps coming back to me.” He said he was giving the scenario little thought before the race and would attack from the opening lap to see how far he could get.
Why Verstappen expects overtaking to be harder at Interlagos
Verstappen pointed to the long straight and the way drivers deploy battery power along it. With DRS gone and drivers using so much electrical energy on the straight, he expects a smaller speed difference between the attacking car and the one defending. In his view, that will make it harder than usual to pass at Interlagos.
He was encouraged by his pace on the laps he did complete. Verstappen led final practice on a dry track and then went third fastest in a wet Q1. He did not run in Q2 and finished 16th in the rain-disrupted qualifying session won by Lando Norris. Verstappen said his pace came as no surprise and that he hoped to clear the cars ahead as quickly as possible on Sunday.
Red Bull exceeded Verstappen’s season allocation for three components. A fifth internal combustion engine, fifth turbocharger and fifth exhaust set cost him 10 grid places apiece. The team also fitted a new power-unit ancillary component within his allocation.
How Verstappen won from 17th in 2024
Verstappen started 17th at Interlagos in 2024 after qualifying 12th and taking a five-place engine penalty. He climbed to 11th on the opening lap, then stayed out as rivals pitted under a Virtual Safety Car. He was second behind Esteban Ocon when the race was red-flagged and was able to change tyres during the stoppage.
A later Safety Car restart gave Verstappen his opening. He passed Ocon for the lead on lap 43 and went on to win. This time, with a start from the back and less of a straight-line advantage to work with in traffic, he is looking for the same chance to keep the leaders within reach.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the São Paulo Grand Prix in Formula 1 live from Interlagos.
FAQ
Why is Max Verstappen starting from the back in São Paulo?
His new combustion engine, turbocharger and exhaust set each exceeded his season allocation, resulting in a combined 30-place grid penalty.
What does Verstappen want from Sunday’s race?
He hopes for several Safety Car periods to bunch up the field and stop the leaders from pulling away while he works through traffic.
Where did Verstappen start when he won at Interlagos in 2024?
He started 17th, reached 11th on the opening lap and passed Esteban Ocon for the lead after a Safety Car restart.
