Max Verstappen set to start Brazilian Grand Prix from back of grid after Red Bull changes
NXTbets Pro | Published On: November 7, 2026
Verstappen penalty looms
Max Verstappen will start the Brazilian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Red Bull made engine component changes to his car, a move that is expected to bring a grid penalty for the race. The change comes after a difficult run through practice, where Verstappen reported engine, clutch and steering problems over the radio and Red Bull had to keep working on the car between sessions. He ended the second practice session early with five minutes left, then Red Bull confirmed the steering issue he had complained about in first practice had returned. The team said it would make changes to Verstappen’s car, including a different wheel and several adjustments on his side, as it tried to settle the RB22 and give him a cleaner run into qualifying. Red Bull also broke the FIA curfew for the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, another sign of how much work the team still had to do on the car. Verstappen said Red Bull still had some work to do before qualifying, and the team acknowledged there was more performance left to find in the package. That backdrop makes the starting position a major setback for a driver who arrived in Brazil riding strong form and still fighting for position in the title picture.
Verstappen practice pace
The penalty does not tell the full story of Verstappen’s Friday, because the speed was still there even as the problems piled up. He was third quickest in both practice sessions and ended FP2 just 0.259 seconds behind Kimi Antonelli, who topped both sessions. Verstappen’s pace suggested Red Bull still had a car capable of running near the front when the setup cooperated, even if the session ran far from cleanly. In FP1, Verstappen said the car had “unacceptable” downshifts, and he also said the steering made the car “a work-out.” Those complaints lined up with the later confirmation that the steering issue had returned in FP2 and forced him back into the garage before the end of the session. Red Bull’s response was immediate and extensive. The team moved to change components and adjust the car around him, trying to solve the faults before the weekend reached qualifying. Even with the interruptions, Verstappen was strong on long-run averages in the second practice session, a reminder that the underlying pace was still present. That mix of speed and instability shaped the day. Verstappen was quick enough to stay in the conversation at the front, but the issues he faced left Red Bull with a narrow window to get the car under control.
Verstappen title chase
The Brazilian Grand Prix also lands at an important point in Verstappen’s season, with the Dutchman arriving after winning three of the last four races. His victory in Mexico last Sunday moved him to second in the drivers’ championship, and that result sharpened the stakes around every session at Interlagos. Red Bull needs a clean weekend to keep that momentum alive, but the engine changes and the expected penalty put the driver on the back foot before the race even begins. That is a tough spot for a team that came into the weekend trying to manage form, reliability and setup all at once. Verstappen’s recent run has given Red Bull real championship traction, yet Brazil has already turned into a damage-limitation exercise. The car issues he raised in practice pointed to more than a simple setup complaint. Engine trouble, clutch trouble and steering trouble all surfaced in the same day, and each one forced the team to focus on fixes instead of fine-tuning performance. Red Bull said there was still more pace to extract, and Verstappen’s practice times backed that up. The problem is that speed alone will not be enough if the car keeps fighting him. The team now has to turn a difficult Friday into a workable qualifying plan, then find a way to recover from the back of the grid if Verstappen wants to keep pressure on the championship leaders.
