The Dutchman toiled during Saturday’s qualifying session

Max Verstappen will begin the Brazilian Grand Prix from the pit lane rather than from 16th place, after Red Bull elected to change the engine and make adjustments to the setup of the RB21.

The decision was reported in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf and follows a difficult weekend in which the reigning world champion suffered one of his most challenging qualifying sessions in recent years.

Verstappen was eliminated in Q1 on Saturday for the first time since the 2021 Russian Grand Prix.

On that occasion the result was influenced by engine limitations, but this time the Dutch driver struggled visibly for grip throughout the session.

He later described the car as unpredictable and difficult to control, adding that he had been unable to push with any confidence.

His comments reflected a degree of confusion within the team regarding the reasons for the loss of performance.The disappointment was compounded by the reaction in the Red Bull garage, where television cameras captured Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, leaving shortly after the qualifying result was confirmed.

Max Verstappen will begin the Brazilian Grand Prix from the pit lane rather than from 16th place, after Red Bull elected to change the engine and make adjustments to the setup of the RB21

 | REUTERS

Max Verstappen is looking to win another F1 title this season| GETTY

The image spread quickly across social media and became a focal point of discussion among fans.

Despite the setback, Verstappen demonstrated resilience in the sprint race, finishing fourth and securing five points. The result leaves him 39 points behind championship leader Lando

Norris with four races remaining. Oscar Piastri separates the pair and sits between them in the standings, though the Australian crashed out of the sprint and remains 30 points clear of Verstappen.

ax Verstappen cut a frustrated figure as his hopes of Brazilian Grand Prix success suffered a blow in qualifying| REUTERS

Red Bull’s decision to change the engine means that Verstappen will not take up his original grid slot and instead will start from the pit lane.

The team hopes that the change in setup may address the handling issues that left Verstappen describing the RB21 as lacking grip throughout the lap.

In post-qualifying comments, he made clear that the performance deficit was not yet understood.

“We need to understand what our problems are, first of all,” Verstappen said.

“It’s not been good. It seems that we don’t really understand why it’s going that way. There was just no grip. I changed a few times the car and it didn’t work. That is something we need to figure out.”

The situation is not unfamiliar to Verstappen.

Last year at Interlagos, he recovered from starting 17th after taking a grid penalty for the use of a sixth power unit and went on to win in changeable weather conditions.

The circuit’s layout, combined with the strategic influence of safety cars and tyre wear, has historically allowed for strong recovery drives.

However, the wider implications for the title race are evident.

Norris, who has found consistent momentum in recent weeks, will begin the Grand Prix with a clear advantage, while Verstappen faces the challenge of working his way through the field in a car that the team is still attempting to understand.

For Red Bull, the immediate task is diagnostic rather than tactical.

The priority, as Verstappen indicated, will be identifying the root cause of the sudden drop in pace.