The Dutch champion hasn’t been knocked out in Q1 since 2021. A potential power unit change could send him to the back of the grid — or even the pit lane — as Red Bull scrambles to save their Interlagos weekend
It’s been an absolutely disastrous Saturday for Max Verstappen and Red Bull at Interlagos. The Dutchman, currently 39 points behind Lando Norris — more than a race and a half — faces another major setback after a shocking early exit in qualifying.
After being eliminated in Q1 for the first time since the 2021 Russian GP (when he already had a grid penalty), Red Bull is reportedly considering starting the four-time World Champion from the pit lane on Sunday, according to Auto Motor und Sport.
Verstappen to Start from the Back: A Desperate Move from Red Bull?
The team’s engineers are currently assessing whether to replace Verstappen’s power unit, a move that would automatically relegate him to the back of the grid — but could help salvage race pace and reliability after a chaotic weekend.
Visibly frustrated, Verstappen didn’t hold back in his post-session comments:
“I couldn’t push — the car was sliding everywhere. I had to back off just to keep it on track, and that obviously doesn’t work in qualifying. We need to understand what’s going on. The title’s gone. I honestly don’t know how things could get worse, so that’s what we have to focus on now.”
The weekend has been a nightmare for Red Bull as a whole: Yuki Tsunoda also struggled to find balance and grip, with both RB21s looking far from competitive around the demanding Interlagos circuit.
If the power unit change goes ahead, Verstappen will be forced to start from the pit lane, hoping to pull off a comeback reminiscent of Hamilton’s 2021 charge or his own heroics in 2024.
Photo: Oracle Red Bull Racing
