Verstappen recovers from P21 to finish second in Sao Paulo

Max Verstappen said his first stint in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix was key to his climb from P21 on the grid to second place. The Dutchman, a four-time World Champion, had several power unit component changes that forced a back-of-the-grid start, and he moved into the points quickly on a wet but drying track.

Verstappen reached the fringes of the podium before the pit stops for slick tyres, then moved up to second. He finished 14 seconds behind race winner and polesitter Lando Norris, after a late stop for intermediate tyres. He reported an unusual balance problem later in the race, which he said he could not explain and wanted to understand.

Red Bull also secured a double podium, with Isack Hadjar finishing third after briefly running second. Hadjar said he needed to make fewer mistakes, having run wide and lost time at Turn 1.