The champion, out in Q1 for the first time in years

Max Verstappen went through a real nightmare in Interlagos. The three-time world champion was knocked out in Q1 for the first time since 2021, sealing a disastrous Saturday for Red Bull Racing. His RB21, filled with experimental setups, never found its rhythm and left him with a shocking P16, which later got worse: the team decided to change the power unit, forcing him to start from the pitlane in Sunday’s race.

The Dutchman was visibly frustrated throughout the session. “I have no grip, the car is broken,” he said over the radio while struggling to find pace through the middle sector. His teammate Yuki Tsunoda fared no better, finishing 18th and confirming that Red Bull is living through its toughest weekend of the season.

Red Bull changes engine and pays the price

Hours after qualifying, the FIA confirmed that Red Bull had replaced key components of Verstappen’s power unit, a decision that automatically results in a pitlane start penalty. The move was a public admission of failure. According to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Red Bull abandoned the aerodynamic experiment attempted in qualifying, convinced that the setup changes “completely ruined the car’s balance.”

Joining him at the back of the grid will be Esteban Ocon, who also replaced his engine. In contrast, youngsters like Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto are expected to take advantage of the chaos to move up the order.

No pace, no confidence: the champion doubts himself

The Brazilian disaster came right after a difficult weekend in Mexico, where Verstappen barely salvaged a third-place finish. In Interlagos, the slump continued: he finished sixth in the sprint race and publicly admitted that he’s “no longer thinking about the championship.” With Lando Norris 39 points ahead, the outlook is getting darker by the minute.

The Dutchman still remembers his epic 2021 comeback, when he stormed from P17 to P1 under the rain. But this time, neither the weather nor the car seem to be on his side. His resigned tone after qualifying made it clear: Red Bull has lost its way right when it needed stability the most.

Comeback or collapse?

For Verstappen, Brazil could mark a turning point. If he fails to score big points, McLaren and Ferrari could mathematically eliminate him from the title fight before the penultimate round of the season. His hope boils down to a single word: comeback.

But the Max who once dominated with authority now seems trapped between frustration and helplessness. His Red Bull RB21, once a symbol of perfection, has turned into a puzzle with no solution. And as the paddock wonders what went wrong, the reigning champion faces his toughest challenge yet: rising from the hardest technical knockout of his career.