Verstappen P16 after difficult qualifying in Brazil: 'No grip'

Published on 08 November 2025 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen will start the Sao Paolo Grand Prix from P16 on the grid after a disappointing qualifying session. Max’s Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate Yuki Tsunoda also struggled in nineteenth, meaning both Red Bulls stranded in Q1. At the front, Lando Norris took pole position for McLaren, with Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completing the top three.

“There’s not much to say, it just isn’t good. If we knew what the problem was, we would solve. You can talk about it all you like, but it won’t solve it”, explained a realistic Max after his early exit in qualifying.

“We made a lot of changes after the sprint because we had to try something as it’s not working at all. We just didn’t have the grip nor the balance. I couldn’t push and really had to drive within myself not to slide. Not a single corner felt good. The set-up didn’t help, but even before that, it wasn’t working for us. We’ll have to analyse what’s happened. The whole weekend has been tough, and we tried to improve, but this was unexpected”, concluded the Dutchman.

After a brief delay, qualifying gets underway on a dry track. Max heads out on a set of the soft Pirelli tyres. His first flying lap appears subdued and gets him P6 as he crosses the finish line. But as the rest of the drivers complete their first efforts, the Red Bull racer drops to sixteenth.

On his second run, a mistake in turn nine, means the reigning champion is unable to better his first timed lap. Thankfully there is enough time for a third attempt. Max completes two cooldown laps before embarking on his final flying lap. Although he betters his time, the 1:10.403 is still not quick enough to get into the top 15. It means Max joins Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon (Haas), Franco Colapinto (Alpine) and Gabriel Bortoleto – whose Sauber was not repaired on time to partake in qualifying – in the unfortunate group of drivers that do not progress to Q2.

Meanwhile, at the front there is a mixture of the usual front runners – the McLarens, Ferraris and Mercedes – as well as more surprising appearances of Haas’ Oliver Bearman, the two Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg who all make it into the top ten shootout.

In Q3, Lando Norris clinches a convincing pole position with his second timed lap. The pressure was on for the championship leader after his first run was thwarted by a mistake in the first corner. The McLaren driver duly delivered and will start Sunday’s Grand Prix from pole ahead of Antonelli, Leclerc, Piastri and Hadjar.

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 qualifying Brazil: