TECH WEEKLY: How Red Bull pulled off Verstappen’s remarkable turnaround in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
Mark Hughes and illustrator Giorgio Piola explain the changes that Red Bull made to Max Verstappen's RB21 that led to his stunning comeback in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.


The turnaround in Max Verstappen’s form between Qualifying and the race in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix was remarkable. Only 16th fastest in Qualifying, his Red Bull RB21 was the fastest car in the race as he drove from the pit lane to third place.
The reason he started from the pit lane was that the team, despairing of how bad the car was in Qualifying, had taken it out of parc ferme and given it a completely different set-up.
When a car is taken out of parc ferme and changes are made to its specification, it loses its position on the grid and must start from the pit lane.
Next Up
Related Articles
UnlockedTop 10 most memorable F1 moments at Sepang
F1 Business Summit adds new Las Vegas speakers
UnlockedTREMAYNE: Why I hope Ocon’s F1 story isn’t over yet
What time is the 2026 Bahrain GP and how can I watch it?
BettingThe 5 drivers most likely to win the Bahrain GP
UnlockedPALMER: Why George Russell’s Baku win was so impressive
