P21 to P2. An incredible comeback. And Verstappen STILL wasn’t happy! 🤯 …🚨 P21 TO P2! MAX VERSTAPPEN PRODUCES INCREDIBLE BRAZILIAN GP COMEBACK – BUT RED BULL STAR WAS STILL FURIOUS! 🤯🏎️
Max Verstappen delivered one of the most remarkable recovery drives of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the São Paulo Grand Prix, climbing from 21st on the starting grid to finish second at Interlagos.
The four-time world champion produced an extraordinary performance in difficult weather conditions, overtaking driver after driver and fighting his way through the field to secure another podium finish for Red Bull Racing.
However, despite achieving what many would consider an almost impossible result, Verstappen was far from satisfied when he crossed the finish line.
While fans celebrated his incredible comeback, the Dutchman was busy expressing his frustration over the performance and handling of his Red Bull car. His post-race radio message made it clear that finishing second had not been enough to hide the problems he experienced throughout much of the race.
It was a fascinating afternoon at Interlagos: an outstanding recovery, a disappointing car experience and another reminder of why Verstappen remains one of the most formidable competitors in Formula 1.
🔥 FROM P21 TO P2: VERSTAPPEN’S INCREDIBLE RECOVERY
Verstappen entered Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix facing a difficult challenge after power-unit component changes left him starting from 21st position.
Starting so far down the grid at a circuit like Interlagos meant that he needed an exceptional opening phase if he wanted to fight for a meaningful result.
Fortunately for Red Bull, the wet conditions created opportunities for the Dutchman.
With intermediate tyres fitted and the track presenting a difficult challenge for the entire field, Verstappen immediately began making progress. He demonstrated excellent control, confidence and race awareness as he searched for grip and found opportunities to overtake his rivals.
Rather than becoming trapped behind slower cars, he quickly worked his way through the field.
Within the opening three laps, Verstappen had already made significant progress, and he soon found himself inside the top ten.
His speed during the opening stint was particularly impressive. While several drivers struggled to judge the changing track conditions, Verstappen appeared comfortable pushing his Red Bull through the wet sections.
He continued gaining positions and eventually entered the fight for the podium.
The performance was another example of his ability to turn a difficult starting position into a competitive result, particularly at Interlagos, where changing weather conditions often produce unpredictable races.
By the time the race developed into its next phase, Verstappen was no longer simply fighting for points. He was challenging for the leading positions.
😳 THE PROBLEM THAT RUINED HIS CHANCE OF FIGHTING FOR VICTORY
Although Verstappen’s opening stint was extremely strong, the situation changed when drivers began switching from intermediate tyres to slicks.
The Red Bull driver suddenly experienced significant handling problems.
According to Verstappen, the car felt completely different from what he had experienced earlier in the weekend. The balance became unpredictable, with excessive oversteer making it difficult to push confidently through the high-speed corners.
He even suggested that the car might have suffered some kind of damage during the race.
This was particularly frustrating because Verstappen believed the pace was there to challenge for an even better result.
After fighting his way into second position, he was unable to make significant progress towards race leader Lando Norris.
The gap remained difficult to close, and the Dutchman eventually realised that his car was preventing him from mounting a serious challenge for victory.
Speaking after the race, Verstappen explained that the opening stint on intermediate tyres had been extremely strong, but everything changed afterwards.
He said the car felt like the complete opposite of what he had experienced throughout the weekend and admitted that Red Bull needed to investigate what had gone wrong.
The issue was especially concerning because even after the rain returned and Verstappen switched back to intermediate tyres, the car did not feel the same as it had at the beginning.
For a driver who had started 21st and fought all the way to second, the possibility that a technical problem had cost him a chance of victory was understandably disappointing.
🤬 VERSTAPPEN’S ANGRY RADIO MESSAGE AFTER THE FINISH
The most dramatic moment came after Verstappen crossed the finish line.
Despite securing second place, the Red Bull driver did not hide his frustration over the condition of his car.
His radio message was unusually strong, describing how difficult the vehicle had been to drive for much of the race.
He made it clear that although P2 was a positive result, he was unhappy with the way it had been achieved.
Verstappen even apologised for his language while explaining just how difficult the experience had been.
The Dutchman said he had never experienced anything quite like it, whether in wet or dry conditions.
His reaction immediately attracted attention because most drivers would have been delighted with such a recovery from the back of the grid.
But Verstappen’s mentality is different.
He is not simply interested in finishing on the podium. He wants to understand why his car was not performing properly and whether a better result was possible.
His frustration was therefore not necessarily directed at the result itself. Instead, it reflected his belief that Red Bull had lost valuable performance during the race.
🏁 LANDO NORRIS TAKES THE WIN AS RED BULL SECURES A DOUBLE PODIUM
While Verstappen was fighting his way towards the front, Lando Norris was producing an impressive performance of his own.
The McLaren driver started from pole position and successfully converted it into victory at the São Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris controlled the race and managed to stay ahead of Verstappen despite the Red Bull driver’s remarkable recovery.
The Dutchman eventually finished more than 14 seconds behind the race winner.
Isack Hadjar also enjoyed an outstanding afternoon, completing the podium in third place and giving Red Bull a valuable double podium.
Hadjar had briefly occupied second position before Verstappen caught him during the race. Red Bull subsequently instructed the two drivers to swap positions, allowing the more experienced Dutchman to continue his pursuit of Norris.
Hadjar accepted the situation and eventually secured third place.
The result was significant for the young Frenchman, who added another impressive podium to his growing Formula 1 record.
For Red Bull, having both drivers on the podium was a major positive, particularly after a weekend that had presented several challenges.
However, Verstappen’s complaints demonstrated that the team still had important questions to answer about its car’s performance.
