Verstappen hit by Red Bull tyre temperature issue in Brazil

Max Verstappen was among the Red Bull drivers affected by tyres falling outside their optimal temperature window during the São Paulo Grand Prix. After starting 21st, he reported a sudden drop in performance after switching to soft tyres, with the car becoming less stable and less consistent.

The handling problems included instability mid-corner, understeer on entry and oversteer on exit through the twistier sections. Part of the cause was the higher ride height used for the wet-weather setup, which reduced floor downforce and lightened the rear of the car. As track temperatures fluctuated and tyres degraded, the RB22 handled less predictably.

The changing grip levels left Verstappen without the confidence to push to the limit, which was what would have been needed to contend for the win.