Max Verstappen’s F1 title hopes are on the line as Red Bull ponders a major overhaul of his RB21 car, potentially forcing him to start the Brazilian Grand Prix from the pit lane. The four-time world champion had a disastrous qualifying session, getting knocked out in Q1 for the first time in four years, leaving him 16th on the grid.
Verstappen’s struggles were evident as he couldn’t improve his lap time, struggling with grip and having to “under-drive” to avoid going off track. Red Bull team advisor Helmut Marko revealed that the team is considering making drastic changes to the car setup, which would breach parc ferme regulations and force Verstappen to start from the pit lane.
Meanwhile, championship leader Lando Norris secured pole position, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli alongside him on the front row. Charles Leclerc rounded up the top three, while Oscar Piastri, who crashed out in the sprint race, qualified fourth.
Red Bull is torn between sticking with the current setup or making radical changes, which could either pay off or cost them valuable points in the championship. Team principal Laurent Mekies admitted that the changes made to Verstappen’s car between the sprint and qualifying “went in the opposite direction,” contributing to his poor performance ³.
While Verstappen has shown remarkable resilience in the past, recovering from a pit lane start will be a significant challenge. His title chances are hanging by a thread, and it remains to be seen if he can bounce back from this setback.
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