Source: REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
[Saba Sports News] At the Brazilian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen staged another stunning comeback. Despite starting from the pit lane and encountering a slow tire puncture early in the race, he charged through to secure a podium finish. Afterwards, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko revealed that Verstappen’s tire puncture was caused by carbon fiber debris piercing the tire, likely originating from track incidents, including the collision between Lewis Hamilton and Franco Colapinto. Fortunately, Red Bull’s data engineers promptly detected abnormal tire pressure, allowing a tire change during the virtual safety car period and minimizing losses. In an interview, Marko also explained the RB21 car’s biggest weakness this season: an extremely narrow operating window. Slight changes in track temperature or ride height by less than a millimeter could completely disrupt the car’s balance. Red Bull’s recent regained competitiveness stems from finding the correct floor and rear wing specifications. Although this race’s result is encouraging, it offers limited substantial help for the championship fight. Verstappen now trails Norris by 49 points in the standings, with only three races remaining, leaving Verstappen with only a theoretical chance for the championship.