Verstappen Begins Race from Pits Following Major Adjustments
Max Verstappen will commence the Brazilian Grand Prix from the pit lane. This decision follows Red Bull’s choice to break the parc fermé rules for significant modifications to his car’s setup. Alongside these changes, a new Honda power unit will be installed.
Disastrous Qualifying Results
Verstappen’s qualifying session concluded with him in 16th position, while his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, qualified 19th. Team principal Laurent Mekies attributed the disappointing performance to risks taken in an effort to enhance the car’s speed. Unfortunately, these adjustments had the opposite effect.
Verstappen expressed dissatisfaction during the qualifying, stating he struggled to find grip, describing the car as “sliding around a lot.” The team decided to revert to an older floor specification, which had shown better performance during the sprint event tested by Tsunoda.
Changes for Improved Performance
- Red Bull reverted to an older floor specification.
- Installed a new Honda power unit.
- Attempted to improve the car’s ride and grip.
Despite these modifications, Verstappen was skeptical about recovering from his starting position. He remarked, “With these kinds of performances, forget about it,” when questioned about the potential for a comeback.
Penalty and Future Flexibility
The new power unit exceeds Verstappen’s annual allocation, which would typically incur a grid penalty. However, since the team has already opted for a pit lane start due to the parc fermé breach, this penalty will not be applied for the race.
Tsunoda will start from the ninth row of the grid, benefiting from positions gained through the pit lane start of Haas driver Esteban Ocon.
Ultimately, Red Bull is eager that these adjustments will lead to a more competitive performance on race day despite the challenges faced in qualifying.
