Verstappen Details Issues with RB22 Despite Strong Comeback at Brazilian GP

Max Verstappen secured second place in the Brazilian Grand Prix after a remarkable recovery, but he admitted that his car's performance during the race left something to be desired.

Speaking to Viaplay after the event at Interlagos, Verstappen described his challenges: "After my stint on intermediates, the car felt really bad. I’m not sure what exactly went wrong or broke, but it was nearly undriveable. There was a huge amount of oversteer in the fast corners. For instance, at the final kink, normally you can take it flat out, but I could barely keep full throttle. That was disappointing."

Early Race Hopes and Car Issues

In the early stages, Verstappen was moving quickly up the field, positioned well for a podium finish. Yet, something affected his performance: "We were quickly near the podium spots, but then something clearly went wrong," he said. "I couldn’t turn the steering wheel properly in the fast corners; it was very strange. The team checked the car and found something unusual. Since there aren’t many sensors on the car during a race, they’ll have to take it apart. It was obvious something wasn’t right."

Strong Start Despite Rain and Challenges

Verstappen’s comeback started impressively, especially given the wet conditions. He admitted starting the race in first gear due to the rain and felt good about the car on the way to the grid. "During those laps, the car still felt pretty good. Then when I went out, I thought I had very little grip, but looking around, I realized I actually had quite a lot," he said with a smile.

However, the beginning of the race wasn’t entirely smooth: "I had some bad luck in the first few corners, got boxed in, and faced several cars ahead of me. But after that, I passed them quickly by taking different lines and searching for grip. Most drivers stick behind the car in front, but you have to find the grip yourself." This skill, he credits to practice with his father Jos Verstappen: "It makes a big difference. If you get stuck behind someone too long, you lose time to the leaders, which becomes tough when switching to slick tires. We were actually in a good position by the time we switched to slicks."

Noteworthy Overtaking Moment

On lap five, Verstappen made a bold move passing both Oscar Piastri and Alexander Albon in one go. "I went around the outside at Turn 3 and didn’t lift off. I saw him push me a bit wide, but I kept going. I rarely lift in those moments," he stated.

Looking Ahead with Realism

Verstappen remains realistic about the race: "Going from 21st to second is great, but I’m always thinking about what could improve. Clearly, something was wrong with the car because it didn’t feel the same as in the first few laps during the final wet stint." He’s confident in his wet-weather skills: "I’m not surprised by my ability in the rain; I expect this from myself. People often think things will just work out because I’ve started from the back before, but that’s not always the case. You give it your best shot, but sometimes you need things to fall your way, since this kind of drive isn’t normal."