Verstappen to Start Brazilian GP from Pit Lane After Red Bull Changes

Max Verstappen will start the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos from the pit lane after Red Bull made significant changes to his RB21 under parc ferme conditions. This strategic move comes after a disappointing qualifying session for the Dutchman.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's decision to break parc ferme rules and make substantial changes to Verstappen's car, including power unit components, signals a desperate attempt to salvage points from what has been a challenging Brazilian Grand Prix weekend. Starting from the pit lane is a significant setback, but the team clearly believes a radical setup change offers a better chance of progress than racing with the car's current performance.

The details:

• Parc Ferme Breach: Red Bull made changes to Verstappen's RB21 under parc ferme conditions, necessitating a pit lane start as per FIA regulations.
• Power Unit Components: In addition to chassis setup changes, components of Verstappen's power unit were also altered. This is a strategic move to potentially improve performance without incurring further grid penalties beyond the pit lane start, given his already low qualifying position.
• Disastrous Qualifying: Verstappen had a dismal qualifying session, finishing P16 for the grid-setting sprint race. This poor performance prompted Red Bull to consider drastic measures.
• Sprint Race Struggles: Following a fourth-place finish in the sprint, modifications made for that session seemed to backfire, as Verstappen was eliminated in Q1 for the main Grand Prix, with the RB21's performance seemingly regressing.
• Team-mate's Woes: Yuki Tsunoda, Verstappen's teammate, also struggled, suffering his second Q1 knockout of the weekend, qualifying P19. However, Tsunoda is not expected to start from the pit lane.

What's next:

Red Bull's bold strategy will now focus on Verstappen's ability to carve through the field from the pit lane. The performance of the revised RB21 will be under intense scrutiny to see if the radical changes can provide the pace and reliability needed to make up positions. The team will be aiming to minimize the damage and secure as many points as possible, hoping the new setup unlocks significant potential that was missing in qualifying.