Max Verstappen has confirmed a rare error at the start of the 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, contributing to his initial struggles before a recovery drive to second place. The Red Bull driver admitted to a slow reaction time off the line. This was attributed to incorrectly holding the clutch.
The Dutchman started the rain-affected race from 21st on the grid at Interlagos. This grid position was a consequence of a power unit change penalty. McLaren’s Lando Norris secured victory in the event.
Verstappen stated, “To be honest, I had a very slow reaction time off the line because I was holding the clutch wrong, so I had to react very quickly. Then I was slow off the line, and that was my mistake.”
I had a very slow reaction time off the line because I was holding the clutch wrong, so I had to react very quickly. Then I was slow off the line, and that was my mistake.
This clutch issue is not an isolated incident for Red Bull. Team principal Laurent Mekies previously confirmed that clutch problems have affected the RB22 throughout the 2026 season. He indicated these issues would not be resolved until the next season.
Teammate Isack Hadjar also called for a redesign of the RB22’s clutch. Hadjar described it as “fragile” and prone to struggling with operating temperatures after poor starts.
Despite his initial setback and a “traffic jam” in the first three corners, Verstappen demonstrated significant pace. He rapidly advanced through the field. He entered the top 10 within three laps. By lap five, he had moved up to eighth position.
Verstappen executed multiple overtakes, including a double pass on Oscar Piastri and Alex Albon on lap five. He then passed Kimi Antonelli on lap 24 to claim third place. Red Bull subsequently issued team orders for Isack Hadjar to allow Verstappen past on lap 38. This moved Verstappen into second position.
The four-time world champion expressed significant dissatisfaction with the balance of his RB22 after switching to slick tyres. He reported “extreme amounts of oversteer in the high-speed corners.” This made the car “super difficult to drive.”
Verstappen labelled the RB22 a “disaster to drive” during this phase. He suspected potential damage or an aerodynamic loss. He noted the car felt “night and day different” when he later reverted to intermediate tyres.
Red Bull’s Head of Race Strategy, Hannah Schmitz, confirmed the team was investigating “quite a few changes” to Verstappen’s car. This followed his complaints about downshifts and heavy steering during Friday practice. Technical director Pierre Waché had previously acknowledged recurring “aero degradation” issues with the RB22.
The 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix was marked by variable weather conditions, starting wet, drying out, and then experiencing a late rain shower. Lando Norris secured his third victory of the season by a margin of 14.6 seconds over Verstappen.
Mercedes clinched the 2026 Constructors’ Championship at this event. George Russell finished fourth and Kimi Antonelli fifth. Antonelli had led early but spun twice, including once at Turn 1 on lap 20.
Lewis Hamilton, making his 400th F1 start for Ferrari, began from 20th due to power unit penalties. He gained 11 positions on the opening lap. However, he finished ninth after struggling with intermediate tyre degradation and a late spin. Charles Leclerc finished eighth after a five-second post-race penalty.
Verstappen’s second-place finish marked his eighth consecutive podium. He received the Driver of the Day award for his performance.
