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Max Verstappen finished Friday’s Formula 1 practice sessions in Sao Paulo in third place. The Dutchman held that position in both sessions, finishing about two and a half tenths behind the fastest driver in each outing, with Lando Norris leading the first session and Kimi Antonelli topping the second.
Practice Issues and Radio Comedies
Red Bull concluded that there is enough potential in the car to fight at the front, although Verstappen faced several issues at Interlagos. During the opening session, he complained about downshifts, while a power steering issue gave him a difficult workout near the end of the run.
In the second session, Verstappen delivered a humorous radio exchange when he struggled to understand a message from Tom Hart, who is replacing Gianpiero Lambiase as his race engineer for the weekend, regarding the power unit and gearbox.
Hart told him over the radio that they had nothing on the switch and the car was adapting to him. Verstappen responded with a mocking voice asking if he needed to speak directly to the engine himself.
Early Pit Entry and Setup Adjustments
More significantly, Verstappen ended the second practice session early with just over six minutes remaining on the clock. According to team radio exchanges, the decision came at his own suggestion.
After Verstappen proposed coming in, Hart agreed and noted that the radio quality had deteriorated. Red Bull head of race strategy Hannah Schmitz explained that they found numerous inconsistencies in the long run and felt continuing was no longer helpful.
Schmitz stated they were no longer gathering necessary data and chose to move straight into overnight changes since they already knew what they wanted to examine and adjust.
The early return meant Verstappen skipped the opportunity to practice starts on the grid. Given that the Autodromo José Carlos Pace start straight climbs steeply and Red Bull has struggled with starts this season, the omission was notable. Following his exit, mechanics were spotted working underneath his RB22.
Weekend Potential and Weather Challenges
Regarding overall competitiveness, Schmitz expressed optimism given that Verstappen has won three of the last four Grands Prix. She noted that both drivers identified areas to investigate and modify overnight, which indicates clear direction for addressing car behavior.
Red Bull also had to factor in unpredictable weather forecasts for the weekend. The team tested all three tire compounds during Friday’s runs to understand them, though changing temperatures and potential rain complicate how useful that data will prove for Sunday’s race.
Schmitz pointed out that conditions on Friday differed significantly from Sunday’s forecast, making it challenging to translate the collected data into race day expectations.
