Hinchcliffe sees possible mind game in Verstappen’s car complaints

James Hinchcliffe believes Max Verstappen’s complaints about car balance after his first pit stop at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix may have been part of a psychological game aimed at his rivals.

On the F1 Nation podcast, Hinchcliffe pointed to Lando Norris’s 14-second victory in 2026. Norris had won the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix by 10 seconds; Hinchcliffe recalled that Norris said on the cooldown lap that the margin should have been larger. Verstappen’s remarks, Hinchcliffe suggested, could make rivals question whether Norris’s 2026 advantage told the whole story.

Verstappen started 21st, climbed into the top five during the first stint and was at times the fastest driver on track. Hinchcliffe said a small mechanical problem for Norris could have let Verstappen win from that starting position.

Hinchcliffe also allowed for a technical explanation: Verstappen may be particularly sensitive to the car’s balance, and an inspection could reveal a broken part or something not working properly. He noted the complexity of the cars.