Max Verstappen was forced to cut his race simulation short during Friday practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix after encountering a series of technical problems with his Red Bull. However, the Dutchman’s early pace offered considerable encouragement, with his initial long-run performance suggesting that he could be a serious contender for victory at Interlagos.
Verstappen completed just ten laps of his planned race simulation before returning to the pits, abandoning the programme with six minutes remaining in the session. Despite the disruption, Red Bull remained optimistic about the car’s underlying performance, with Hannah Schmitz pointing to the considerable potential still available.
The early signs were particularly interesting for Verstappen’s championship rivals, with Mercedes and McLaren also showing competitive long-run pace.
Verstappen battles technical problems during Red Bull race simulation
Following Friday’s second practice session, Verstappen offered his typically understated assessment of the car, describing the situation as “not badly”.
For those familiar with the Dutchman’s language, that assessment can often be interpreted as an encouraging sign, even when the car is not behaving exactly as expected.
However, there were several issues preventing him from completing his planned programme.
Verstappen complained of significant understeer and described the feeling when changing gear as “terrible”. He was also experiencing problems with the power steering, particularly through the left-hand corners, making the car increasingly difficult to control.
The powertrain was another source of frustration, with inconsistencies affecting the car’s behaviour throughout the session.
When Verstappen began his race simulation with fewer than 20 minutes remaining, race engineer Tom Hart indicated that approximately 12 laps should be achievable.
Instead, the Red Bull driver managed ten before deciding that continuing was no longer worthwhile.
Shortly before returning to the garage, Verstappen had also reported that he was struggling to hold the steering wheel comfortably. The problems were particularly noticeable through the long sweeping corner at Interlagos, which effectively functions like a straight.
With six minutes remaining, he climbed out of the car and joined his engineers in the garage.
Red Bull encouraged by Verstappen’s early pace
Despite the disappointing conclusion to the simulation, there was considerable encouragement within the Red Bull garage.
Hannah Schmitz made clear that the team remained optimistic about its prospects for the remainder of the weekend, insisting there was “more than enough potential” in the car.
The first four laps of Verstappen’s long run provided some justification for that confidence.
Running on medium tyres, the Dutchman established an impressive average pace before the technical difficulties began to influence his performance.
Lewis Hamilton was the only other leading driver to complete a comparable long-run programme on medium tyres. The Ferrari driver was more than half a second per lap slower than Verstappen, with the initial difference reaching approximately one second.
Although the comparison must be treated cautiously because of the limited sample size and differing circumstances, it offered an encouraging indication of Red Bull’s potential.
The team’s competitors were reportedly made aware of Verstappen’s pace, with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell among those receiving information about his performance.
Antonelli emerges as a serious threat to Verstappen
Mercedes also enjoyed an encouraging Friday, with newly crowned world champion Antonelli demonstrating impressive consistency over his longer runs.
The Italian completed the longest stint of the leading drivers and showed that tyre degradation was not proving particularly problematic.
Antonelli’s average was almost two tenths of a second quicker than Verstappen’s, although the comparison was complicated by the different tyre compounds and the Red Bull driver’s technical problems.
Isack Hadjar also demonstrated the potential of the softer compound, recording an average of approximately 1:15.5.
That performance suggested Verstappen could have considerably more speed available should Red Bull resolve its problems, particularly given the pace previously demonstrated on the soft tyres in Mexico.
George Russell also produced a competitive stint, although his initial pace proved difficult to sustain. His weekend has been complicated further by a new internal combustion engine, resulting in a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race.
McLaren’s upgrades could complicate the battle
McLaren also appeared to have made progress after introducing further developments to its car.
The team has continued upgrading the MCL40 late into the season, following difficulties with its development direction and an unsuccessful attempt to correct an earlier upgrade package in Austin.
The latest changes appear to have delivered some improvement in Brazil.
Lando Norris has not yet demonstrated the same long-run performance as Antonelli and Verstappen, but he looked considerably more competitive than during recent weekends.
McLaren’s preference for the harder tyre compound could also prove strategically important if conditions remain dry.
Oscar Piastri likewise appeared more comfortable, having struggled for several months to extract consistent performance from the car.
Ferrari, meanwhile, endured a difficult Friday. Neither Hamilton nor Charles Leclerc appeared particularly satisfied, and the Scuderia looked to be the fourth-fastest team on the evidence available.
That assessment offers little encouragement for the Tifosi, particularly given Ferrari’s longstanding difficulties in wet conditions.
For Verstappen, the immediate priority will be resolving Red Bull’s technical inconsistencies before qualifying. His early long-run pace suggests the potential is there, but Mercedes and Antonelli have already demonstrated that the reigning competitive threat cannot be underestimated.
If Red Bull can deliver a reliable car, Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix could develop into a fascinating contest between Verstappen, Antonelli and McLaren.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
Thiago Treze is a Brazilian motorsport writer at TJ13 with a background in sports journalism and broadcast media, alongside an academic foundation in engineering with a focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This combination of technical knowledge and editorial experience allows Thiago to approach Formula 1 from both a performance and narrative perspective.
At TJ13, Treze covers driver performance, career developments, and key storylines across the Formula 1 grid, while also analysing the technical factors that influence competitiveness. This includes aerodynamic development trends, simulation-driven design approaches, and the engineering decisions that shape race weekend outcomes.
His reporting bridges the gap between human performance and machine development, helping readers understand how driver execution and technical innovation interact in modern Formula 1. Coverage often connects on-track events with the underlying engineering philosophies that define each team’s approach.
With a global perspective shaped by both journalism and technical study, Thiago also focuses on Formula 1’s international reach and the different ways the sport is experienced across regions.
Treze has a particular interest in how Computational Fluid Dynamics and aerodynamic modelling contribute to car performance, offering accessible explanations of complex technical concepts within Formula 1.
