P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Qualifying for the São Paulo Grand Prix was a disaster for Max Verstappen — and now it appears that a penalty could also be looming for the Dutchman.
Max Verstappen had a challenging qualifying session for the São Paulo Grand Prix, starting the race from P16 on the grid at Interlagos. Despite efforts to improve his car’s setup after struggling in the sprint race, Verstappen faced even more difficulties during qualifying. He found himself stuck in the danger zone early in Q1 and failed to advance, affecting his title ambitions negatively. The exact cause of the poor performance remains unclear, with Verstappen describing the car as uncontrollable and difficult to push to the limit. Red Bull now needs to analyze the issues to understand and address them, though limited changes can be made under parc fermé rules after qualifying. Any adjustments beyond the restrictions could result in a penalty for Verstappen and the team.
