Max Verstappen endured one of the most difficult qualifying sessions of his Formula One career at Interlagos, prompting visible frustration within the Red Bull garage as his father, Jos Verstappen, was seen leaving immediately after the Dutch driver was eliminated in Q1, reports BritPanorama.
Verstappen, 28, will begin Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix in 16th place after struggling for grip and control throughout the session, a result that threatens to derail his championship challenge.
The unexpected exit marked Verstappen’s first Q1 elimination since the 2021 Russian Grand Prix. The reigning world champion appeared unsettled from the outset, reporting instability in the car and an inability to build confidence through the circuit’s twisting sections.
Television cameras captured his father departing the Red Bull garage moments after the result was confirmed, an image that circulated rapidly across social media. Fans expressed shock and disbelief not only at Verstappen’s qualifying position but also at the apparent reaction from within his own camp.
One supporter remarked online: “Jos Verstappen storming out the garage because his son had a bad day at work…” Another added: “This is the worst Red Bull of the decade.” A third comment noted the stunned reaction across the paddock: “Did not have that on the bingo card. Verstappen out in Q1.” Many viewed the moment as a clear indicator of the intense pressure surrounding one of modern motorsport’s defining families.
The top of the grid offered a very different storyline. Lando Norris secured pole position with a commanding performance, while Kimi Antonelli produced a standout lap to claim second place. Charles Leclerc will start from third, having been edged down following a late improvement from Antonelli. Oscar Piastri lines up fourth in an attempt to keep his title hopes alive.
The remaining top ten includes Isack Hadjar, George Russell, Liam Lawson, Oliver Bearman, Pierre Gasly, and Nico Hulkenberg, creating an unfamiliar configuration for the race. Fernando Alonso begins in 11th place, followed by Alexander Albon in 12th. Sir Lewis Hamilton, struggling with pace this season, sits 13th on the grid after expressing frustration over his inability to generate sufficient temperature in his rear tyres during Q2.
Despite the setback, Verstappen has demonstrated his ability to recover from deep in the field at Interlagos before. Last season, he began 17th in heavy rain and secured victory, reminding everyone that unpredictable weather and strategic opportunities can dramatically alter the race dynamics. However, he did not disguise his concern over the car’s behaviour.
He stated: “It was just bad. I couldn’t push at all. The car was all over the place, sliding around a lot. I had to under drive it a lot just to not have a moment. That of course doesn’t work in qualifying. We first have to analyse what is going on. I don’t really understand how it can be this bad, so that’s more important for us to understand at the moment.”
As the engines rev for the race, it remains to be seen whether a champion’s tenacity can overcome today’s disappointment, proving that in Formula One, fortunes can change remarkably fast.
