Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda struggle with grip, but rain could shake up the Brazil GP Sprint. Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda faced a challenging Brazil GP Sprint qualifying.

Red Bull endured a challenging Brazil GP Sprint qualifying, falling short of the results they expected. With only FP1 completed, there was insufficient data for Max Verstappen to secure a top grid spot, while Yuki Tsunoda failed to progress beyond SQ1. However, today’s unpredictable weather could dramatically shake up the order, giving the Red Bull duo a chance to surprise fans. Here’s what Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda had to say after the Friday Sprint qualifying session.

Max Verstappen’s take on the session

Max Verstappen admitted that the weekend had been difficult so far: “Today wasn’t our day, both in this morning’s FP1 and in the Sprint qualifying. I experienced a lot of vibrations and general handling issues, which is not what we want. I wouldn’t say it’s worse than yesterday, but we are definitely struggling with the lack of grip. Our middle sector was not great, and I had difficulty getting the car to turn properly. At the same time, I couldn’t rely on the rear tires, so overall the performance was quite poor. We’re slightly lacking in pace. I don’t expect things to improve dramatically in the wet, but tomorrow is another day, and you never know what a change in weather might bring.”

Yuki Tsunoda reflects on the challenges

Yuki Tsunoda also described his own difficulties during the session: “The lap itself went well and I didn’t make any mistakes, so it’s a shame we didn’t get past SQ1. I struggled with grip throughout the lap, including during free practice, and it has been a real challenge for us. Sure, we lost some time in FP1, which didn’t help, but it didn’t make a huge difference for our performance in SQ1. Ultimately, what we gained from FP1 was useful; I improved both in long runs and short runs, which we will use tomorrow. We’ll have to see what the weather brings—conditions could change, and I have no strong preference either way.”

Both Red Bull drivers are bracing for a wet and unpredictable Sprint race at Interlagos, where shifting conditions could level the playing field and provide opportunities to recover from yesterday’s disappointing results.