Verstappen questions handling problem after Brazil charge from 21st to second

Max Verstappen said an unexplained handling problem restricted his chances of challenging for victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, despite recovering from 21st on the grid to finish second. According to BBC Sport's post-race reporting, the Red Bull driver experienced severe oversteer in high-speed corners after switching to slick tyres and wanted to understand what had caused it.

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Verstappen said the opening stint had gone well, with a rapid climb into the top 10 and competitive pace. By the time the field was approaching the change to dry-weather tyres around lap 15, he had reached fifth and was less than 15 seconds behind race leader Kimi Antonelli. An engine-usage penalty had left the four-time world champion starting near the back.

His assessment changed once the slick tyres were fitted. Verstappen said the car became particularly difficult to drive through fast corners, raising the possibility of a broken component or an aerodynamic loss. Neither explanation was confirmed in his comments. He said the behaviour was abnormal and that he had completed most of the race with the car below its proper condition.

Although pleased with second place, Verstappen believed more had been possible with a correctly functioning car. BBC Sport reported that he could not match eventual winner Lando Norris's pace on slick tyres, and heavy rain in the closing laps did not turn the contest in his favour. The weather had already required the drivers to manage a wet start followed by a progressively drying circuit.

Norris took control after recovering from losing the lead to Antonelli at the start. The McLaren driver switched to slicks one lap before the Mercedes, bringing him close enough to apply pressure. Antonelli then spun at Turn One, allowing Norris into a lead he retained. Verstappen finished ahead of Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar, who joined the pair on the podium.

Mercedes nevertheless secured the constructors' championship with George Russell fourth and Antonelli fifth. For Verstappen, the result combined a substantial recovery with an unresolved technical question: his post-race account identified when the handling deteriorated, but did not establish why.