SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 08: Second placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red

The 110 seconds that almost won Verstappen the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Special ContributorMichael Lamonato

Max Verstappen has a history of big Brazilian comebacks, but on Saturday night he was talking down his chances of contending for victory from a penalised 21st on the grid.

This wasn’t a new situation for Verstappen – he won there from 17th in 2024, and last year he came from the pit lane to the podium – but the Dutchman was less confident of a comeback at this year’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.