Max Verstappen to Start Sao Paulo Grand Prix from Pit Lane After Power Unit Change

SAO PAULO, Brazil — Max Verstappen will start Sunday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix from the pit lane after Red Bull made significant modifications to his car following a disappointing qualifying session.

Verstappen struggled throughout qualifying at Interlagos, dropping out in Q1 and finishing 16th on the grid. This marked the first time since the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix that Red Bull had both cars eliminated in the opening qualifying phase. Following the session, Verstappen expressed his frustration, stating, “It was just bad. I couldn’t push at all; the car was all over the place.”

In a bid to salvage his championship hopes, Red Bull has fitted a new Honda power unit to Verstappen’s RB21. Other changes made during the parc fermé period, including a new Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), Turbocharger (TC), and various electrical components, will also force him to start from the pit lane.

The FIA confirmed that Red Bull’s decision to change multiple key components without prior approval led to Verstappen’s required pit lane start. Notably, Haas’ Esteban Ocon will also begin from the pit lane after also exceeding his power unit allocation.

Following the qualifying session, Verstappen remarked, “Nothing really seems to work,” emphasizing that the team must analyze the underlying issues with the car setup. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged that they had made incorrect strategic calls during qualifying and are now focused on making necessary changes for the race.

Despite starting from the pit lane, Verstappen aims for a strong recovery, recalling his remarkable comeback from 17th to victory under challenging conditions last year. With championship leader Lando Norris starting on pole, Verstappen now finds himself 39 points behind in the title race.