Verstappen charges from 21st to second in Sao Paulo

Max Verstappen produced another strong comeback at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, starting 21st on the grid and finishing second. He attributed a poor getaway to holding the clutch incorrectly, but made rapid progress through the field on intermediate tyres, reaching the podium positions sooner than Red Bull had expected from its own simulations.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said no simulation could predict a gain of 14 places in five laps, adding that Verstappen regularly beats the simulations. Once the leaders switched to slick tyres, however, Verstappen reported a clear change in car balance, which persisted even when the track returned to intermediates late in the race.

Red Bull noted a loss of rear downforce in its data during the race, but Mekies said further analysis is needed to establish the cause and whether it cost enough time to challenge McLaren.