Max Verstappen Explains What Went Wrong with His RB22 in Brazil

Max Verstappen made another remarkable recovery at Interlagos, starting from 21st and finishing second. Yet, despite the impressive comeback, the Dutch driver left the track frustrated. His RB22 was flawless during the first stint but became uncontrollable after the initial pit stop.

The Start and Early Progress

Verstappen admitted the race began with his own error: "I had a very slow reaction time at the start because I was holding the clutch badly. I had to react very quickly, and then I started slowly, so it was my mistake." Even with that setback, he pushed forward aggressively.

"Within two laps, I was overtaking cars at full speed, almost every corner. We had much more grip than most midfielders. I don’t recall exactly when I reached the top 10, but it happened very fast," he said.

Issues After Switching to Slick Tires

The trouble arose when Verstappen switched to slick tires. "As soon as I went on slicks, the car developed severe oversteer in high-speed corners, making it very hard to handle. We need to figure out if something broke, maybe an aerodynamic failure, because this was abnormal," he explained.

He was clear that he raced much of the event with a compromised car: "Even when I switched back to intermediates later on, the car felt completely different from the first stint, which shows something was wrong."

Red Bull's Investigation and Ongoing Concerns

Data showed a possible loss of rear aerodynamic load during the race, but Red Bull hadn’t pinpointed whether Verstappen’s car suffered damage or where. The team, led by Laurent Mekies, is working urgently to find the cause before the final races of the season.

The RB22’s reliability and stability have been weak spots all year, and this new issue adds to those concerns.

Verstappen’s Resilience Shines Through

Despite the challenges, Verstappen’s performance at São Paulo highlighted why he’s seen as one of the best drivers ever. His skill in overtaking, handling pressure, and managing difficult situations stands out.

"Maybe next year I would love to start a little further ahead instead of from behind or the pit lane. I like races like this, but next year, let’s try to start a bit further forward, please. That would be a great start," Verstappen said with a smile.

Red Bull has problems to fix, but with Verstappen driving, there’s always potential for great results.