Max Verstappen may have finished among the fastest drivers during Friday’s opening practice session for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix, but the Red Bull star had plenty of reasons to be unhappy with his afternoon at Interlagos.
On paper, the Dutchman enjoyed a reasonably competitive start to the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend. However, his repeated complaints over team radio exposed a different story, with problems involving gear changes and steering making life considerably more difficult than his third-place position suggested.
While Lando Norris ultimately topped the timesheets for McLaren, Verstappen’s frustrations raised questions about whether Red Bull has the consistency and car balance required to challenge for victory over the remainder of the weekend.
With the Brazilian Grand Prix taking place at the demanding Interlagos circuit, getting the technical details right could prove particularly important.
VERSTAPPEN’S RADIO COMPLAINTS REVEAL RED BULL’S PROBLEMS
Verstappen initially demonstrated that Red Bull had enough performance to compete towards the front of the field.
After switching to the soft tyres, the four-time world champion delivered a 1:11.953 lap, temporarily putting himself ahead of his rivals.
However, his impressive pace did little to hide his dissatisfaction with the RB22.
The Dutchman immediately began reporting difficulties with the car’s downshifts, expressing frustration over how the gearbox was behaving.
His assessment was particularly direct.
“Unacceptable” was Verstappen’s verdict over team radio as he complained about the quality of the gear changes.
For a driver who relies heavily on precision, consistency and confidence when pushing a Formula 1 car to its limits, these problems are far from insignificant.
Downshifting is particularly important when approaching heavy braking zones. Any inconsistency can affect the car’s stability, compromise corner entry and make it harder for a driver to extract maximum performance.
Verstappen’s concerns did not end there.
He subsequently reported that the steering was becoming increasingly difficult to operate, describing the experience as something resembling a physical workout.
The steering issue was especially concerning because Interlagos features several demanding corners where drivers need confidence in the front end of their cars.
Although Verstappen remained competitive on the timing screens, his radio messages suggested that he was not particularly comfortable behind the wheel.
LANDO NORRIS LEADS AS VERSTAPPEN SETTLES FOR THIRD
While Verstappen battled his car’s behaviour, Lando Norris enjoyed a productive opening session.
The McLaren driver produced a 1:11.717 lap to finish fastest in FP1, narrowly beating newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelli finished second with a 1:11.799, just 0.082 seconds behind Norris.
Verstappen completed the top three with a 1:11.953, finishing 0.236 seconds away from the McLaren benchmark.
Lewis Hamilton placed fourth for Ferrari with a 1:12.041, while George Russell completed the top five.
The relatively small gaps between the leading drivers suggest that the competitive order could remain extremely tight throughout the weekend.
However, the headline times do not tell the complete story.
Norris appeared comfortable enough to deliver the fastest lap, while Verstappen was still searching for improvements in the behaviour of his Red Bull.
That distinction could become important during sprint qualifying and the main qualifying session, where drivers need confidence to attack every braking zone and corner.
For McLaren, Norris’s performance provides encouragement. For Red Bull, Verstappen’s pace offers reassurance, but his complaints indicate that there is still work to do.
WHY THE STEERING PROBLEM COULD BECOME A BIGGER ISSUE
One of the most interesting aspects of Verstappen’s Friday was his complaint about the steering becoming progressively harder to turn.
This is not the kind of problem a driver can simply ignore.
Formula 1 cars are incredibly sensitive machines, and steering feedback plays a crucial role in helping drivers understand how much grip is available through the front tyres.
When steering behaviour becomes inconsistent, drivers can struggle to judge the car’s response, particularly through slower corners and direction changes.
Interlagos presents several challenges in this regard.
The circuit combines elevation changes, technical sections and heavy braking zones, meaning drivers must constantly adapt to changing demands.
A steering problem can therefore affect more than physical comfort. It can also influence confidence, consistency and the ability to attack corners repeatedly.
Verstappen is particularly demanding when it comes to car behaviour. His driving style depends on having a predictable platform that allows him to brake aggressively and carry speed through corners.
If Red Bull cannot resolve the problem, the Dutchman could find himself fighting the car rather than concentrating entirely on extracting performance.
That is not an ideal situation for a driver hoping to challenge for another strong result.
RED BULL MUST TURN COMPETITIVE SPEED INTO CONSISTENCY
Despite the complaints, there is no reason for Red Bull to panic based on one practice session.
Verstappen’s third-place finish demonstrates that the RB22 has enough outright speed to remain competitive.
However, outright pace is only one part of the equation.
A successful Formula 1 weekend requires a car that performs consistently across different tyre compounds, fuel loads and track conditions.
Red Bull’s immediate priority should be understanding why Verstappen experienced difficulties with the downshifts and steering.
The team will also need to establish whether the problems are related to specific settings or indicate a more complicated mechanical issue.
There is an important difference between a car that is fundamentally quick and one that allows its driver to extract that performance comfortably.
The latter is what wins races.
Red Bull cannot afford to overlook Verstappen’s feedback, particularly when the margins between the leading teams are so small.
If the problems persist, even a minor loss of confidence could become costly against competitors such as McLaren and Mercedes.
INTERLAGOS COULD GIVE MCLAREN AND MERCEDES AN OPPORTUNITY
The opening session also provided encouraging signs for McLaren and Mercedes.
Norris demonstrated that McLaren could deliver impressive one-lap performance, while Antonelli’s second-place finish showed that Mercedes remains firmly in contention.
The newly crowned world champion was particularly impressive, finishing just 0.082 seconds behind Norris.
Although Antonelli experienced a lock-up during his first soft-tyre attempt, he recovered well to produce a competitive lap.
Hamilton also gave Ferrari something to build on with fourth place.
The leading four drivers represented four different teams, highlighting just how closely matched the front-running machinery appeared to be.
This is potentially significant for Verstappen.
When several teams are separated by only fractions of a second, technical problems become even more expensive.
A driver cannot afford to lose confidence in the braking system, steering or gearbox when rivals are operating at such a high level.
McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari will undoubtedly be monitoring Red Bull’s performance closely.
If Verstappen continues struggling with the car, the other leading teams could take advantage.
ROOKIE DRIVERS ADD ANOTHER STORYLINE TO BRAZILIAN GP FRIDAY
Friday’s opening practice session was also notable because six regular drivers stepped aside to allow young drivers to gain valuable Formula 1 experience.
One of the biggest attractions was Brazilian Rafael Câmara, who made his Formula 1 debut with Haas in front of his home supporters.
Câmara completed 30 laps and finished 18th with a best time of 1:13.696.
His appearance was particularly important as he prepares for his planned full-time promotion to Haas in 2027.
Gabriele Minì also impressed, finishing seventh for Alpine, while Gabriel Bortoleto placed eighth for Audi.
However, the session was interrupted early when Audi rookie Freddie Slater stopped on track, triggering the red flags.
Slater completed just seven laps before his running ended.
These appearances demonstrate the importance of Formula 1’s rookie practice requirements, giving emerging talents opportunities to familiarise themselves with the machinery and demonstrate their potential.
For teams, such sessions also provide valuable information when evaluating future driver line-ups.
WHAT VERSTAPPEN NEEDS FROM RED BULL BEFORE THE NEXT SESSION
The biggest question heading into the remainder of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend is whether Red Bull can give Verstappen a more predictable car.
His lap time suggests that the team does not necessarily need to find a massive performance improvement.
Instead, the priority should be addressing the problems affecting his confidence.
The downshift behaviour needs attention, while the steering issue requires further investigation.
Getting these details right could make a significant difference when qualifying becomes more competitive.
There is also the possibility that changing track conditions could complicate matters.
Interlagos is well known for unpredictable weather, and rain could introduce another variable into an already demanding weekend.
In those circumstances, driver confidence becomes even more important.
Verstappen has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to perform in difficult conditions, but even the most talented driver needs a reliable and predictable car.
Red Bull must therefore make the most of the available preparation time.
VERDICT: VERSTAPPEN HAS THE SPEED, BUT RED BULL MUST FIX THE FRUSTRATIONS
Max Verstappen’s Friday at Interlagos was a reminder that competitive lap times do not always tell the full story in Formula 1.
Finishing third, just 0.236 seconds behind Norris, is an encouraging result for Red Bull.
Nevertheless, the Dutchman’s repeated radio complaints revealed a car that was not behaving as he wanted.
The downshift problems and increasingly heavy steering could become significant obstacles if they are not addressed quickly.
McLaren and Mercedes have already demonstrated that they possess the speed to challenge at the front, leaving Red Bull with little room for technical mistakes.
My assessment is that Verstappen remains a genuine contender for a strong Brazilian Grand Prix result, but his chances will depend heavily on how effectively Red Bull responds to his feedback.
If the team resolves the issues, his natural speed could put him back in contention.
If not, Norris and Antonelli could have an important opportunity to strengthen their positions.
One thing is certain: Verstappen’s third-place finish should not distract Red Bull from the problems that made his Friday considerably more frustrating than the timing screens suggest.
The real test will be whether the team can transform that competitive pace into a car its leading driver can trust.
SEO KEYWORDS: Max Verstappen, Brazilian Grand Prix 2026, São Paulo GP, Red Bull Racing, Lando Norris, Kimi Antonelli, Formula 1 news, Verstappen team radio, Interlagos practice results.Sources for factual accuracy: [FIA’s official FP1 report](https://www.fia.com/news/f1-norris-leads-antonelli-and-verstappen-sao-paulo-opening-practice?utm_source=chatgpt.com) · [Formula 1’s official practice report](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/fp1-norris-leads-antonelli-and-verstappen-in-opening-sao-paulo-gp-practice-session.3GXL3rAROwHsLxnxn9hReY?utm_source=chatgpt.com) · [Reuters’ Brazilian GP report](https://www.reuters.com/sports/formula1/norris-fastest-sao-paulo-practice-champion-antonelli-returns-action-2026-11-06/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
