Max Verstappen could be penalized for Brazil GP as Red Bull considers 'drastic changes' after qualifying

Max Verstappen could face a penalty and start Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix from the pit lane. The Red Bull The driver had a horrible qualifying session and was knocked out in Q1 for the first time in four years, and so was his teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

Both drivers needed to improve their lap times in Q1 after the first runs, which were not good enough to get out of the last five. Tsunoda, who has been struggling to find a rhythm in the RB21 since joining the team, was unable to do so. However, it was Verstappen's elimination that came as a complete surprise.

The four-time F1 champion was unable to improve his lap time and secured a lowly P16 starting position for Sunday's race. With him already in such a poor position to start the race, Red Bull are considering making radical changes to the car's set-up after the closed park, which would mean Max Verstappen should start the race from the pit lane.

Team advisor Helmut Marko discussed the situation with ORF and said (via RN365):

“Now we have to see what we are going to do with this situation. If we are going to make drastic changes again, for example, that would mean starting from the pit lane. But for that, we have to sit down and figure out what is the best option.”

Championship leader Lando Norris he took pole position for the race with Andrea Kimi Antonelli alongside him on the front row. Charles Leclerc rounded out the Top 3, and championship contender Oscar Piastri, who crashed in the Sprint race, took P4, four tenths slower than his McLaren team-mate.

Even if Max Verstappen had to start the race from 16th without breaking through the closed park due to set-up changes or engine changes, it would not be unfamiliar territory for him. The Red Bull driver started the 2024 Brazilian GP from 17th after receiving a five-place grid penalty for a post-qualifying engine change and took a historic victory from that position.

Max Verstappen had to 'underdrive' in qualifying after key set-up changes failed to happen

Red Bull's lack of pace surprised Max Verstappen during qualifying for the Brazilian GP. On Friday, I had already found Sprint Qualifying to be a disaster, labeling the RB21 as “pogo stick” this was “undriveable”.

The Dutchman commented that the team had made substantial changes to the car's set-up following the Sprint race, where he finished P5 after starting a position back. Unfortunately for them, the set-up changes backfired and Verstappen had to “underdrive” the car in qualifying to avoid losing grip and going off the track or crashing.

“It's not what you want to see,” said the 28-year-old (via F1.com). “It's been pretty tough all weekend already, but that's a little bit unexpected, I'd say, having changed the car a little bit. It just wasn't responding. I didn't have any grip out there, so basically I had to drive very little. It just didn't work.”

Max Verstappen also addressed the possibility of making a power change in closed park, bearing in mind that there won't be a world of difference between P16 and P20.

“Not necessarily, but we'll see everything tonight,” he said.

This Q1 exit effectively eliminates Verstappen from the three-way championship battle unless he can recreate his 2024 magic on Sunday or the McLarens have freak DNFs.