Max P17 in Brazilian GP practice

Published on 07 November 2025 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen finished the first and only practice session of the Brazilian Grand Prix in seventeenth place, after only clocking timed laps on the hard Pirelli tyres. Lando Norris was quickest around the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and third-placed Nico Hülkenberg in the Sauber.

The start of the session is delayed due to debris needing cleared off the track. After a brief, five-minute delay, FP1 gets underway with all drivers taking to the track on the hard compound.

Max is the last driver to venture out of the pits. On his first flying lap, he is seventh fastest. Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate Yuki Tsunoda is enduring a more challenging start to the session. The Japanese driver goes off at turn four, hitting the wall with his left front wheel and the trye barriers with the right rear tyre. Despite some damage, Tsunoda is able to drive back to the pits for repairs.

In the meantime, Max has improved his lap time and fifteen minutes in, the Dutchman sits in second behind George Russell (Mercedes). After a quick visit to the pits, Max heads back out for another, longer, run on the hard Pirellis.

With 25 minutes left, Red Bull have made the necessary repairs to Tsunoda’s RB21 and the Japanese driver is sent back out. He does so on the soft tyres but is unable to use the extra grip to great extent, only going thirteenth fastest.

In the final quarter of the session, the track becomes less busy as the teams prepare for qualifying simulations. Meanwhile, Max continues to pound round on hard tyres in preparation for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

The reigning champion has dropped down to seventeenth on the timing sheets but appears to prepare for a final flying lap on the soft tyres. In the end, Max aborts the lap and heads back in for a few more laps on the hard compound, meaning he ends the session in seventeenth.

Contest GP Brazil: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing cap!

Max’s special Brazilian helmet is now available as a scale model (1:2 and 1:4). In addition, a Brazilian cap, sport shirt, and zip hoodie have been launched! Check it out: https://www.verstappen.com/collections/brazil-collection

Results first free practice Brazil: