Verstappen Admits to Falling Behind Rivals in Brazil

Dutch Driver Concedes to Struggling in Sao Paulo Race

In a candid interview following the Brazilian Grand Prix, reigning Formula One world champion Max Verstappen acknowledged that he and his Red Bull team were "definitely off" the pace of their rivals at the Interlagos circuit.

Verstappen's Struggles in Brazil

Verstappen, who has dominated much of the 2023 season, finished sixth in Brazil, a disappointing result for the Dutchman. He admitted that he struggled with the car's handling throughout the weekend and was unable to match the pace of the leading Mercedes and Ferrari teams.

"We were definitely off this weekend," Verstappen said. "The car was a bit of a handful, and I just couldn't find a good rhythm. We need to understand why we were so far off the pace, and we need to fix it quickly."

Red Bull's Performance Issues

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner echoed Verstappen's concerns, admitting that the team had not performed to their usual high standards in Brazil. He said that the team would be investigating the issues that affected Verstappen's car and working to improve their performance for the remaining races of the season.

"We had a difficult weekend in Brazil," Horner said. "We didn't have the pace, and we made some mistakes. We need to learn from this and come back stronger in the next race."

The Championship Race

Verstappen's struggles in Brazil have opened up the championship race, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc now just 14 points behind the Dutchman in the standings. Verstappen remains the favorite for the title, but Leclerc's strong performance in Brazil has given him a boost of confidence.

The next race on the Formula One calendar is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will be held on November 20th. Verstappen will be hoping to bounce back from his disappointing result in Brazil and secure his second consecutive world championship.