Verstappen's charge from 21st to second leaves Red Bull's own simulations behind

Max Verstappen climbed from 21st to second at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Interlagos, a performance so exceptional that Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies conceded no simulation in existence could have predicted it. The Dutchman had started near the back of the grid after an engine penalty and had himself warned that overtaking at the São Paulo circuit would be harder than in previous years.

Speaking to media after the race, Mekies was direct about the limits of Red Bull’s own modelling. “As always, I think no sim in the world will predict that you will go from P21 to P2 or that you get 14 places in five laps,” he said. “There is no sim able to do that. So, he’s beating the sim on a regular basis.”

Mekies acknowledged the frustration of starting so far back given the car’s underlying pace. “It’s easy to forget it’s the first year with the power unit,” he added. “The guys have been doing an extraordinary job, and we take the first penalty with Max this weekend — that’s what it is. It was not planned; we had a small issue on Friday that forced us to do so.”

Red Bull became a works team for 2026 following the end of its partnership with Honda, with Red Bull Powertrains developed in collaboration with Ford. The engine penalty in Brazil marked the first time Verstappen had been hit with a grid drop under the new arrangement.

With Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli having already secured the drivers’ championship at the Mexican Grand Prix the previous weekend, attention has shifted to the battle for second in the standings. Verstappen currently leads that fight with 279 points, ahead of George Russell in third on 262, Lewis Hamilton in fourth on 261, and Charles Leclerc in fifth on 249. The margins are tight enough that the final races of the season retain genuine significance for all four drivers.