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Schmitz explains Verstappen’s early return to the pits in São Paulo practice

Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-11-06GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration

Verstappen suggested returning to the pits with just over six minutes left in Friday’s second practice. Hannah Schmitz said Red Bull’s long-run data contained many inconsistencies and the team was no longer getting the information it needed.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · · 1 min

Max Verstappen ended his Friday second-practice run at Interlagos with just over six minutes remaining, after suggesting a return to the pits. Red Bull’s head of race strategy, Hannah Schmitz, said the team had found many inconsistencies in its long-run data. “We weren't getting the data we needed,” she said.

Schmitz said Red Bull already knew what it wanted to examine and change overnight, and no longer saw value in staying out. Verstappen’s early return also meant he missed a chance to practise a start on Interlagos’s steeply uphill grid. Red Bull’s starts had not always been particularly good in 2026.

Sources 01
  1. SOURCEWhy Max Verstappen ended F1 practice early in Brazil – Red Bull explainsMotorsport.com F1