Max Verstappen delivered another extraordinary Formula 1 comeback at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, recovering from 21st on the starting grid to finish second at Interlagos. However, the four-time world champion was furious with Red Bull’s RB22 despite his remarkable result, describing the car as a disaster to drive. The Dutchman’s complaints over the team radio revealed significant balance and steering problems that affected much of his race, even as he fought his way through the field.
Red Bull nevertheless enjoyed a highly positive afternoon in São Paulo, securing a double podium as Isack Hadjar finished third in the second RB22. Yet Max Verstappen’s frustrations overshadowed the celebrations, with the Dutch driver criticising the handling of his car immediately after crossing the finish line.
Max Verstappen calls Red Bull RB22 a disaster despite Brazilian GP podium
Although Max Verstappen had produced an impressive recovery from the back of the grid, second place was not enough to leave him satisfied. Over the team radio, he made clear that the difficulties he had experienced for approximately two-thirds of the Grand Prix had made driving the RB22 extremely frustrating.
“My God. I spent 85% of the race with a car that was a disaster. Of course, second place is positive, but not in these conditions. I’m sorry, but driving it was a disaster. Unbelievable. I’ve never experienced anything like it, either in the wet or in the dry. Really, really bad,” Max Verstappen complained after the race.
The Dutch driver directed his comments towards race engineer Tom Hart before also speaking with Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies. The Frenchman apologised for the difficulties Max Verstappen had encountered and acknowledged how hard he had been forced to fight with the car throughout the afternoon.
“Understood, Max. All clear. We could see that you had to fight the car throughout the race. Great job getting second place in those conditions. I’m sure we’ll understand what happened. You had a difficult car in every condition, but you still brought home important points. Thank you,” came the response from the Red Bull pit wall.
The contrast between the finishing result and Max Verstappen’s assessment was particularly striking. While Red Bull had achieved a double podium, its leading driver remained deeply dissatisfied with the RB22’s behaviour, particularly its unpredictable balance in changing track conditions.
Max Verstappen reports steering and rear downforce problems at Interlagos
The problems apparently began around lap 26, when Max Verstappen started complaining about difficulties steering the car. His race engineer explained that the RB22’s balance had changed more than expected between pit stops, leaving the Dutchman struggling to find a consistent feeling behind the wheel.
“The car’s balance has changed more than expected between stops,” Tom Hart explained over the radio.
Later, the engineer identified what appeared to be a loss of rear downforce and indicated that Red Bull would attempt to correct the situation during the next pit stop.
“It looks like we’ve lost rear downforce. We’ll correct the situation at the next pit stop,” Tom Hart added.
The complaints highlighted the difficulties Max Verstappen experienced while attempting to manage his recovery through the field. Despite gaining positions and remaining in contention for a podium, the Red Bull driver was unable to establish the predictable handling he wanted from the RB22.
Max Verstappen furious over front wing adjustment on lap 65
Unfortunately for Max Verstappen, the final pit stop did not resolve the handling difficulties. Even during the closing stages, the four-time world champion continued to express frustration with his car’s balance, suggesting that the changes made by Red Bull had once again left him struggling through high-speed corners.
On lap 65, Max Verstappen delivered another angry radio message, this time questioning the team’s front wing adjustment.
“Guys, I think you’ve messed up the front wing again. I’m struggling to steer through the high-speed sections. It’s a joke!” Max Verstappen complained.
His comments underlined the extent of the RB22’s handling problems, which persisted despite the team’s attempts to improve the situation during the race. The complaints were particularly notable given that Max Verstappen was still able to fight his way from 21st on the grid to second at the chequered flag.
The performance also reflected the Dutchman’s ability to deliver a competitive result despite an unpredictable car. Red Bull’s earlier difficulties during the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend had already placed the team’s performance under scrutiny, while the problems at Interlagos created another challenge for the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Red Bull faces difficult debrief despite double Brazilian GP podium
Despite Max Verstappen’s complaints, Red Bull left Interlagos with both drivers on the podium. The Dutchman’s recovery to second place and Isack Hadjar’s third-place finish represented a strong overall result, even if the RB22 proved far from easy to drive.
The difficulties experienced by Max Verstappen also contrasted with the outcome of the race, highlighting how the final classification does not always reflect the competitiveness or handling of a Formula 1 car. The broader Brazilian Grand Prix performance analysis similarly highlighted how Red Bull’s drivers managed to outperform the underlying pace of the RB22 at Interlagos.
With Max Verstappen repeatedly complaining about steering difficulties, rear downforce and front wing adjustments, Red Bull had several issues to investigate after the race. Laurent Mekies acknowledged the problems and expressed confidence that the team would understand what had happened.
Although the comeback and double podium provided reasons to celebrate, Max Verstappen’s unusually forceful criticism suggested that the post-race debrief inside the Red Bull garage was unlikely to be particularly relaxed.
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