F1 fans explain why they think Max Verstappen’s Brazilian GP podium wasn’t the best drive of 2025

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Max Verstappen rescued a podium from a seemingly impossible position at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Unfazed by a pit lane start, as well as a puncture in the opening stages of the race, the Dutchman launched an incredible offensive to keep his drivers’ championship hopes alive.

Overnight changes to his Red Bull car were effective and gave him the pace to be able to slice through the midfield very quickly.

After the race, it was determined that Verstappen had the pace to win, but various factors, such as a bad qualifying, prevented him from reaching the top step at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Verstappen might rue Red Bull’s strategy as they might have been able to challenge for victory without making an extra pit stop.

After the weekend, Red Bull admitted taking a ‘huge risk’ with Verstappen by changing his engine on Saturday night. It did, however, pay dividends for them.

READ MORE: Jolyon Palmer highlights the ’skill test’ Max Verstappen passed and Oscar Piastri failed in Brazil

F1 fans don’t think Max Verstappen’s Brazilian Grand Prix drive was the best of 2025

Verstappen sounded ‘clueless’ in an unusual interview and seemed to be resigned to the fate that his title hopes may now be over.

From 49 points behind, he needs a miracle to come out on top. Red Bull made a small ‘tweak’ to Verstappen’s car that worked in Brazil, but that doesn’t mean it’ll work at other tracks.

When questioned about whether the reigning champions’ drive in Sao Paulo was the best of 2025, fans gave a strong opinion on Facebook.

“In a car, one second a lap faster than anything else, with help from two safety cars and others retiring and getting penalties. Vastly overrated driver,” said one fan.

“New engine, new power unit, what do you expect? The car is going [to] perform better?” replied another.

Someone else believes that his Saturday night changes need to be ‘stopped’, “Used the rules to be able to fit a bigger motor and transmission. Also, adjust the ride. This needs to be stopped.”

And that feeling was shared by someone else, saying, “It was not the driver, they did something to the car, where was he on Friday if he is so brilliant?”

Another fan cited Lewis Hamilton’s performance in 2021 as another example of the feat, “Not really. Lewis has done [the] same. Changing power units and almost purpose-built track for clear overtakes.”

And finally, the overtaking part of his race didn’t impress this individual, “Not really starting at the back gives time for the cars in front to spread out, and in a faster car, overtaking is easier been done before.”

READ MORE: Max Verstappen contract clause could seal 2027 Red Bull exit with two teams now on his radar

Why McLaren were suspicious of a Red Bull change at the Brazilian Grand Prix

Although it was perfectly legal for Red Bull to fit a new power unit in the back of Verstappen’s car in Brazil, there were still questions to be raised.

McLaren were suspicious of Red Bull and whether the new engine would be included as part of their cost cap for 2025.

The team had already ‘accepted’ that would be the case, according to Michael Schmidt, and were prepared to take that gamble.

Heading to Vegas it means that Verstappen has a very fresh power unit and nothing to lose as he fights the McLaren drivers. There could be another twist in the tale yet.