Max Verstappen Praises Red Bull‘s Remarkable Sunday Comeback
SÃO PAULO — Max Verstappen hailed his team’s impressive turnaround at the São Paulo Grand Prix, as Red Bull executed a remarkable strategy to elevate him from the pit lane to the podium. Following a challenging Saturday that saw the reigning champion qualify a surprising 16th, he completed a thrilling recovery drive to secure third place, underscoring his prowess and the team’s resilience.
Astounding Comeback from the Pit Lane
Verstappen started from the pit lane after Red Bull made significant adjustments to his car setup, reverting to the floor configuration from the U.S. Grand Prix and fitting a new engine. This bold strategy paid off superbly, allowing the four-time world champion to recover from an early puncture and make four pit stops throughout the race.
Having briefly led during the pit cycles, he ultimately passed Mercedes driver George Russell in the closing stages, narrowly missing out on second place against Kimi Antonelli in a drag race to the finish line.
Verstappen Reflects on a Strong Result
“Coming from the pit lane to the podium, 10, 11 seconds off the lead — I think for us it’s a very strong result and definitely didn’t expect that waking up this morning,” Verstappen stated post-race. His commendation for the team was clear: “Incredible result for us. Very happy with that and just very proud of everyone within the team.”
Laurent Mekies Credits Verstappen’s Drive
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies echoed Verstappen’s enthusiasm, calling the drive “sensational.” He noted that Verstappen’s comeback mirrored his outstanding victory from 17th place last year during a rain-affected race at Interlagos. “We would probably agree that it was as sensational as last year to bring it to P3 from the pit lane on a dry, relatively uneventful race,” Mekies remarked.
A Tough Qualifying Weekend
Ferrari’s struggle served as a backdrop to Red Bull’s struggles, as Verstappen and teammate Yuki Tsunoda faced their first double Q1 elimination since 2006. Mekies acknowledged that the team needed to take risks to fix the issues that plagued their performance. “The simple truth is that we were not happy with where the car was,” he explained.
Future Strategies and Lessons Learned
Despite the disappointment of Saturday, Mekies reaffirmed Red Bull’s commitment to an aggressive racing approach. “We have taken a lot of these risks in the past few months… that’s the spirit in our racing,” he declared. The team’s adaptability and the lessons learned during difficult moments could prove pivotal as they forge ahead in the season.
Conclusion
Max Verstappen’s third-place finish at the São Paulo Grand Prix is a testament not only to his driving skill but also to Red Bull’s strategic acumen. As the team looks to build on this success, fans will undoubtedly be keenly watching future races to see how these lessons translate into performance on the track.