Verstappen and Red Bull Knocked Out in Brazil Q1, Marko Reveals Crisis Meeting

Red Bull and Max Verstappen faced a shocking Q1 elimination at the São Paulo Grand Prix qualifying, a rare setback for the reigning champion. Both Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda failed to progress, prompting Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko to announce an urgent pre-race meeting to address the team's significant performance issues.

Why it matters:

This early exit for Verstappen and Red Bull is highly unusual and signals potential deep-seated issues with the RB21's development. For a team accustomed to dominance, a Q1 elimination for both cars is a major blow that could significantly impact their championship aspirations for 2025, especially with Verstappen himself casting doubt on his title hopes.

The details:

• Shocking Q1 Exit: Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda were both eliminated in Q1 during qualifying for the São Paulo Grand Prix. Verstappen qualified a dismal 16th, a stark contrast to his usual front-running performance.
• Verstappen's Frustration: The reigning World Champion has struggled with the balance and performance of his Red Bull RB21 throughout the weekend, expressing clear frustration.
• Marko Confirms Meeting: Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko confirmed a pre-race meeting will be held to address the poor qualifying results, stating that "things went badly wrong."
• Development Misstep: Marko noted that the RB21 lost time across all sectors and revealed that a new floor, introduced in Mexico and used again at Interlagos, failed to deliver the expected performance gains.
• "Wrong Turn" in Development: The Austrian indicated that Red Bull had "taken a wrong turn" in car development and emphasized the need for immediate analysis to pinpoint where the error occurred.

What's next:

Red Bull's urgent pre-race meeting will be crucial in determining immediate corrective measures for the São Paulo Grand Prix. The team faces intense pressure to understand and rectify the development issues that led to this unexpected performance slump.

• The team's ability to recover competitiveness will be closely watched, as any prolonged struggles could significantly impact their standing in the 2025 season. This event puts a spotlight on Red Bull's technical direction and their capacity to adapt quickly under pressure.