Max Verstappen made headlines after storming through the field at the Brazilian Grand Prix, despite starting from the pitlane due to major car setup changes and a new power unit. His strong comeback ended with a podium finish, but questions arose about whether he could have won the race if he had started from the grid.
According to Red Bull and race analysts, a win was unlikely. Verstappen’s early tyre damage forced him into a three-stop strategy, costing valuable time. Even with his pace advantage, the conditions and track layout at Interlagos made overtaking difficult.
Team principal Christian Horner praised Verstappen’s performance as “phenomenal,” emphasizing that his recovery drive showed the team’s strength, even if victory was out of reach. In the end, the pitlane start and tyre issues meant Verstappen’s best possible result was the podium finish he achieved.