Verstappen says Brazil recovery drives should not be taken for granted

Max Verstappen says his charge from 21st to second in the São Paulo Grand Prix should not become an automatic expectation. After the race, he pushed back against the idea that he will always fight through the field simply because he has done it before.

A 30-place grid penalty for an engine change sent him to the back. In a race with rain at the start and end, he gained 19 positions, but race winner Lando Norris finished almost 15 seconds ahead.

That expectation has a recent basis: Verstappen started from the pit lane and finished third in Brazil in 2025, then climbed from 17th to victory in 2024. In a post-race interview with Viaplay, he said he rarely surprises himself because he expects a lot of himself and knows he can drive well in the rain. Even so, he stressed that a recovery like this is not normal and cannot be assumed every time.