Max Verstappen Calls Red Bull's Brazilian GP Car a 'Disaster' in Untelevised Team Radio

Max Verstappen's radio messages during the Brazilian Grand Prix painted a picture of frustration as he battled a car he described as 'a disaster to drive.' Starting from the back of the grid due to an engine change, Verstappen navigated the wet Interlagos circuit to claim second place, all while contending with significant handling difficulties.

The issues began shortly after his first pit stop on Lap 17, when Verstappen switched from intermediate to soft tyres. By Lap 26, he was venting his frustrations over the team radio, telling his new race engineer, Tom Hart, that he could 'barely steer in the high speed.' Hart, set to take over full-time from GianPiero Lambiase in 2027, was on the receiving end of Verstappen's concerns about the car's balance.

Verstappen's struggles continued as he attempted to manage the car's handling. On Lap 28, he complained about steering difficulties when asked about a front wing adjustment. Despite the challenges, Verstappen managed to keep his composure, although he firmly rejected the idea of completing the race without another pit stop.

As the race progressed, Verstappen's frustrations grew. By Lap 43, he was still grappling with a lack of rear load and front tyre degradation. His dissatisfaction was clear as he described the stint as a 'disaster.'

Despite these setbacks, Verstappen worked his way up to P5 after a second pit stop on Lap 45, where Hart confirmed a six-click adjustment to the front wing. However, the communication from the pit wall seemed lacking, prompting Verstappen to request information about the gaps to other cars.

As rain returned to Interlagos, Verstappen made a third stop on Lap 62 to switch back to intermediates, only to encounter engine clipping issues on Lap 64. The handling woes persisted, and Verstappen expressed his exasperation over the team radio, claiming something was 'really wrong' with the car.

Crossing the finish line 14.6 seconds behind race winner Lando Norris, Verstappen didn't hold back on the cooldown lap, expressing his disbelief at having driven '85 per cent of the race with a f**ked car.' Despite the challenges, he acknowledged the team's effort, noting the double podium with Isack Hadjar finishing third.

Verstappen's performance engineer since 2020, Hart will continue as race engineer for the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix in Red Bull's handover process. Lambiase is expected to return for the final two races before moving to McLaren.