Verstappen Loses Ground in Interlagos
Reigning Formula One world champion Max Verstappen suffered a setback in his title defense on Saturday when he was demoted to fourth place on the grid for Sunday's Sao Paulo Grand Prix after being penalized for a safety car violation during qualifying.
Safety Car Violation Costs Verstappen
During Q3, Verstappen was deemed to have overtaken Esteban Ocon under yellow flags, which is prohibited. The stewards investigated the incident and handed Verstappen a three-place penalty, dropping him from his original second-place starting position to fifth.
However, a subsequent penalty for Carlos Sainz, who was ahead of Verstappen, promoted the Dutchman up to fourth place. Despite the penalty, Verstappen remains confident in his chances for Sunday's race.
Sainz and Russell Impress
Carlos Sainz, who secured pole position for Ferrari, hailed the team's performance and expressed optimism for their race chances. George Russell, who qualified second for Mercedes, echoed Sainz's sentiments and stated his belief in the team's potential to challenge for the win.
Title Race Heats Up
Verstappen's penalty has further intensified the title race, with his main rivals, Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez, starting ahead of him on the grid. Hamilton, who qualified third, will aim to close the gap in the standings, while Perez, who starts from second, hopes to capitalize on any misfortune for Verstappen to boost his own title aspirations.
Conclusion
Verstappen's penalty has added an element of intrigue to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. With the title race reaching its climax, all eyes will be on the Dutchman as he seeks to overcome the setback and secure another podium finish.