Max Verstappen has set his sights on fighting for the Formula 1 world championship in 2027 after Red Bull secured a double podium at the Brazilian Grand Prix. The four-time world champion recovered from 21st on the grid to finish second at Interlagos, while team-mate Isack Hadjar completed the podium behind race winner Lando Norris. Despite the encouraging result, Max Verstappen revealed that his RB22 developed unexpected handling problems after the opening stint.
Although Red Bull missed out on victory in São Paulo, the team collected one of its strongest results of the 2026 season. The performance demonstrated the competitiveness of the RB22 in difficult, changeable conditions, even if Max Verstappen was left searching for answers about the car’s behaviour as the race progressed.
Max Verstappen reveals Red Bull problems after remarkable Brazilian GP recovery
Max Verstappen may not have repeated his 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix victory, but the Dutchman delivered another remarkable recovery at Interlagos. Starting from 21st position, he climbed through the field to finish second, with much of that progress coming during the opening stages of the race.
The challenging conditions demanded a careful balance between aggression and patience, particularly while the circuit remained slippery.
“The first two laps were fun, but also hectic because you have to be patient. It was very slippery,” Max Verstappen explained. “There was grip in some places, but it was also very easy to make a mistake, so you can quickly go from looking like a hero to being a nobody.”
Although Max Verstappen made rapid progress through the field, the handling of his Red Bull changed significantly when the team switched from intermediate tyres to soft slicks. The Dutchman experienced severe oversteer in high-speed corners, which also compromised his ability to preserve the front tyres.
“I moved up quickly, but when we switched from the Intermediates to the Softs, something went wrong. I had extreme oversteer in the high-speed corners, and when you try to compensate for that, you damage the front tyre.”
“I’m not saying something broke, but something wasn’t right, and we need to understand why. Even when we went back to the Intermediates towards the end, the balance was completely different compared to the beginning, and that’s not normal.”
Despite these problems, Max Verstappen’s recovery provided another demonstration of his ability to extract results in challenging circumstances. The Dutchman has experienced other difficulties with Red Bull during the season, including engine-related concerns following his podium at the United States Grand Prix.
Red Bull shows encouraging pace against Mercedes and Ferrari
Although the RB22 did not provide Max Verstappen with enough performance to challenge Lando Norris for victory, it remained competitive throughout the changing conditions at Interlagos. Red Bull demonstrated greater consistency than Mercedes and Ferrari, both of which experienced more significant fluctuations in performance during the weekend.
McLaren, however, appeared to have interpreted the Brazilian Grand Prix conditions better than any other team. Lando Norris secured the victory, while the Woking-based outfit also benefited from the improvements introduced to its car.
That renewed competitiveness has given Red Bull another challenge as the 2026 season approaches its conclusion. With both teams continuing to develop their cars, Max Verstappen expects the battle in the Constructors’ Championship to remain intense.
“We’re pushing, but the other teams are pushing too and bringing upgrades,” Max Verstappen said when discussing Red Bull’s rivals. “McLaren have brought improvements, and they seem to be working. We want to stay ahead of them in the constructors’ championship, so I think it will be a good fight until the end.”
The double podium strengthened Red Bull’s position against McLaren despite Lando Norris winning the race. Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar both contributed valuable points, underlining the importance of having two competitive drivers as the championship enters its final stages.
Max Verstappen sets sights on fighting for 2027 F1 world championship
Red Bull’s improving form towards the end of the season has also provided encouragement for the team’s prospects in 2027. While Max Verstappen recognises that the competition remains fierce, he hopes the progress made during the closing races will help Red Bull return to the fight for the drivers’ title.
“In 2027, I would like to be fighting for the title,” Max Verstappen told Sky Sport.
The four-time world champion’s ambition comes after a season in which Red Bull has continued working to improve the RB22 while trying to maintain its advantage over McLaren in the constructors’ standings. With the final triple-header still to come, both teams have further opportunities to strengthen their positions.
Isack Hadjar celebrates Red Bull podium after difficult weeks
Isack Hadjar’s performance provided another major positive for Red Bull at the Brazilian Grand Prix. After a period in which he had struggled to find confidence in the car, the French driver returned to competitive form and finished third, completing an impressive double podium for the team.
The 71-lap race was physically and mentally demanding, with the constantly changing conditions making it particularly difficult to maintain consistency throughout the afternoon.
“It was extremely difficult, but a lot of fun. Seventy-one laps in these conditions were exhausting,” Isack Hadjar explained in the post-race interview area.
“I’m happy to leave Brazil with a podium. I’m not someone who takes crazy risks, and that paid off. Honestly, I can’t remember a race that demanding.”
His measured approach proved effective, allowing Isack Hadjar to secure a valuable result after several frustrating weekends. The Frenchman also demonstrated that he could remain close to Max Verstappen and compete towards the front of the field.
Isack Hadjar questions Red Bull team orders favouring Max Verstappen
The only minor controversy surrounding Isack Hadjar’s race concerned a Red Bull team order that required him to give up his position to Max Verstappen. The decision was intended to allow the Dutchman to close the gap to Lando Norris and potentially challenge the leading McLaren.
After allowing his team-mate through, Isack Hadjar questioned whether the position would be returned if Max Verstappen failed to overtake Lando Norris.
“If he can’t overtake Lando, do we stay like this?” Isack Hadjar asked over the team radio.
When he did not receive an immediate response, the French driver followed up with another message.
“Hey, don’t forget to answer me.”
Although Red Bull did not return the position, Isack Hadjar chose not to prolong the discussion after the race. Instead, he focused on the positive aspects of his performance and the significance of securing his fourth Formula 1 podium.
The result brought an end to an inconsistent run of performances and gave the French driver renewed confidence ahead of the final three-race sequence of the season.
“It’s nice after nothing had been going right over the last few weeks. We didn’t approach the weekend in the best way, and we still finished third, so that’s promising for the final triple-header.”
With Max Verstappen targeting another world championship challenge in 2027 and Isack Hadjar rediscovering his confidence, Red Bull leaves Brazil with encouraging signs. The team still has work to do to understand the handling problems experienced by its leading driver, but a double podium has strengthened its position in the battle against McLaren.
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- 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ championship standings
- 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix full race results and finishing order
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