Max Verstappen Calls Brazil F1 Sprint Qualifying 'Rubbish'

Max Verstappen described his Brazilian Grand Prix sprint qualifying as 'rubbish,' securing only sixth place. His Red Bull Formula 1 car reportedly lacked grip and struggled significantly over the bumps at the newly resurfaced Interlagos circuit.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's uncharacteristic struggle for pace in sprint qualifying raises questions about Red Bull's setup for the challenging Interlagos track. This performance could signal a tougher weekend ahead for the championship leader, especially if the team can't find solutions for the main race. His candid comments highlight significant car balance issues, a rare complaint from a driver usually dominant.

The details:

• Qualifying Woes: Verstappen barely made it into the top 10 shootout, advancing by only a tenth of a second in SQ2. His teammate, Sergio Pérez, was eliminated in SQ1, underscoring a broader team challenge.
• Grip and Bouncing Issues: Verstappen reported 'a lot of vibrations' and 'bounced all over the place.' He also cited 'no grip in the slow corners,' a car that 'wouldn't turn,' and a lack of traction.
• Tyre Discrepancy: The issues were far less pronounced on hard tires during Friday's practice but became critical on soft tires during sprint qualifying. This suggests a difficulty in making the soft compound work effectively on the new surface.
• Downforce Concerns: Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko speculated the car lacked sufficient downforce. With parc fermé rules in effect, no significant setup changes can be made before the sprint race, which could be affected by rain.

What's next:

Red Bull remains optimistic about finding solutions for the main race, but the immediate prospects for the sprint race, especially if it rains, are dim. Verstappen himself isn't convinced rain will be his ally.

• Main Race Focus: The team hopes to use the data gathered from sprint qualifying to adapt the car's setup for the main Grand Prix.
• Rain Uncertainty: Despite past successes in wet conditions at Interlagos, Verstappen stated he doesn't 'expect that suddenly to be miles better in the wet,' indicating a fundamental issue beyond just track conditions.
• Challenging Sprint: Marko conceded that without rain, Verstappen has 'no chance' to finish on the podium in the sprint race, highlighting the severity of their current performance deficit.