Max Verstappen has expressed his frustration regarding the perceived normalcy of his recovery drives, following a second-place finish at the São Paulo Grand Prix on November 8, 2026. The Red Bull driver started the race from 21st position on the grid at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace.
Verstappen gained 19 places during the 71-lap race, ultimately finishing 14.602 seconds behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, who secured the victory from pole position.
The Dutchman’s starting position was a direct consequence of a power unit change. Red Bull Racing opted to fit new components beyond the permitted allocation after issues with engine braking and clutch were identified during Friday’s practice sessions.
Specifically, Verstappen received a 30-place grid penalty for taking a fifth Internal Combustion Engine, fifth turbocharger, and fifth exhaust. This automatically relegated him to the back of the grid.
Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies confirmed the penalty ahead of qualifying, with the team also breaking the FIA curfew to address the car’s issues.
Despite the impressive climb, Verstappen indicated that such performances are not sustainable or to be expected regularly.
“At some point, I’m done with it. It was fun, but I don’t want to do this every year here.”
He further elaborated on the challenges, particularly concerning the 2026 power unit regulations. Verstappen noted that the current rules limit overtaking opportunities due to battery drain on straights and the absence of a DRS advantage.
“The problem is that you drain your entire battery on the straight here. We used to have DRS, which made a difference of five-tenths of a second. But now everyone always has their wings open on the straight. And everyone is doing the same thing with the battery. So you don’t have a lot of overspeed. It’s a bit like in Mexico. Makes it very difficult to generate much more top speed. So it won’t be as easy as it was in 2024.”
The São Paulo Grand Prix was marked by mixed weather conditions, starting on intermediate tyres, transitioning to slicks, and then reverting to intermediates due to late rain.
Verstappen reported issues with the car’s balance during the final stint in the rain, which he felt hindered his progress after reaching second position.
This recovery drive adds to Verstappen’s record of strong performances from lower grid positions. He has secured seven podium finishes in eight races where he started 15th or lower.
Notable past comebacks include a victory from 17th on the grid at the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix and a third-place finish from the pit lane in Brazil in 2025.
The 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix also saw Isack Hadjar secure third place, completing a double podium for Red Bull Racing. Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team clinched the Constructors’ Championship with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
Verstappen currently sits second in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship standings, 111 points behind champion Kimi Antonelli. He has recorded 3 wins and 12 podiums in 20 races this season.
His recent form has been strong, accumulating 116 points across the last five rounds, making him the highest-scoring driver in that period.
