Red Bull secured an impressive double podium at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen recovering from 21st on the grid to finish second ahead of team-mate Isack Hadjar in third. Team principal Laurent Mekies praised the collective effort behind the result at Interlagos, which allowed the Milton Keynes-based outfit to gain valuable ground on Ferrari in the battle for second place in the constructors’ championship.
Although McLaren returned to winning ways with Lando Norris and Mercedes mathematically secured the constructors’ world championship, Red Bull emerged as another major winner from the São Paulo weekend. Both drivers finished on the podium after a challenging race marked by changing conditions, demanding tyre management and strategic decisions.
Red Bull celebrates double podium as Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar shine in Brazil
McLaren ended its winless run in Brazil, with Lando Norris claiming his first victory since the Dutch Grand Prix. The 2025 world champion returned to the top step of the podium, but McLaren was not the only team with reason to celebrate at Interlagos.
While Mercedes secured the constructors’ championship, Red Bull delivered another outstanding result by placing both Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar among the top three finishers. The performance represented an important boost for the team in its pursuit of Ferrari in the championship standings.
Just as they had done in Baku, Max Verstappen finished second ahead of Isack Hadjar. Their result in Azerbaijan had marked Red Bull’s first double podium of the season, and the Brazilian Grand Prix provided another valuable opportunity to strengthen the team’s position in the constructors’ championship.
The result was particularly significant given Ferrari’s disappointing performance at Interlagos. Red Bull collected important points in the fight for second place, taking advantage of a difficult weekend for the Italian team.
Laurent Mekies praises Max Verstappen’s remarkable comeback from 21st
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, who previously served as Ferrari’s sporting director, was delighted with the team’s performance in São Paulo. The Frenchman highlighted both Max Verstappen’s extraordinary recovery through the field and Isack Hadjar’s increasingly convincing performances.
“What a fantastic result for the whole team here in São Paulo,” Laurent Mekies declared. “Max delivered another masterful performance, coming back from 21st to second in a way that only he can. This is his third consecutive podium here in Brazil after starting 17th or lower. You could almost say we’re getting used to it, but it’s always extraordinary to watch the way he races at this circuit, especially in such difficult conditions.”
Max Verstappen’s recovery was another demonstration of his ability to make progress through the field at Interlagos, a circuit where he has repeatedly produced remarkable performances in challenging circumstances. The Red Bull driver secured second place despite starting near the back of the grid, adding another podium to his Brazilian Grand Prix record.
The result also offered a welcome contrast to the team’s earlier difficulties during the season, including the questions raised by Max Verstappen following the United States Grand Prix.
Isack Hadjar earns praise after securing third podium of 2026
Laurent Mekies was equally enthusiastic about Isack Hadjar, who continued to develop his confidence and delivered another strong performance to secure his third podium of the season. The Red Bull team principal particularly praised the young driver’s intelligent approach to the race.
“It was also an exceptional weekend for Isack. He continued to build his confidence and improve his performances, producing a fantastic race today and securing his third podium of the season thanks to some really intelligent driving.”
“Having both drivers on the podium is an extraordinary reward, the result of the tremendous teamwork of the entire group. The conditions were extremely difficult to interpret, yet the drivers and the team executed everything perfectly, from the strategy to the pit stops.”
The double podium represented an important achievement for Red Bull, particularly as the team continued its battle for second place in the constructors’ standings. With Ferrari struggling at Interlagos, the points secured by Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar strengthened Red Bull’s position in that contest.
Red Bull reveals balance problems after switching to slick tyres
Despite the satisfaction surrounding the double podium, Laurent Mekies acknowledged that Red Bull’s Brazilian Grand Prix was not entirely straightforward. The team had been highly competitive on intermediate tyres, but the switch to dry-weather tyres introduced a significant change in the balance of Max Verstappen’s car.
“It wasn’t all straightforward, though. We were very competitive on the intermediate tyres, but after Max switched to dry tyres, we experienced a significant change in the car’s balance that made everything more complicated.”
The changing conditions at Interlagos created additional challenges for teams attempting to manage tyre performance and adapt their cars to the evolving track. The potential impact of heavy rain and tyre behaviour had also been a significant consideration ahead of the event, as explored in the technical analysis of tyre demands and wet-weather conditions at Interlagos.
Laurent Mekies confirmed that Red Bull would examine the balance change to better understand what happened. He also acknowledged that, despite the team’s strong overall result, Lando Norris had held a small performance advantage during the race.
“We’ll have to analyse that and keep pushing because, in the end, Lando had slightly better pace than us today.”
Nevertheless, the Red Bull team principal was keen to emphasise the collective achievement behind the result, crediting the team’s dedication and determination for its success in Brazil.
“Overall, this double podium is a fantastic result that reflects the hard work, commitment and determination that define this team.”
Red Bull therefore leaves São Paulo with another significant result in its battle against Ferrari for second place in the constructors’ championship. Although the balance difficulties encountered on slick tyres remain an area for investigation, the combined performances of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar provided Laurent Mekies with plenty of reasons to celebrate.
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