Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has claimed he was in “no man’s land” during the Brazil Grand Prix sprint race.
The Dutchman crossed the line in fourth after starting from sixth, but was 4.423 seconds behind race winner Lando Norris.
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“We will make some changes and hopefully that will bring the car in a better window,” Verstappen explained to the media after the race. “Hopefully that will allow us to push a bit better on the tyres, then we will see what happens.
“Like this, you’re in no man’s land. I can’t really stay with the guys ahead. I want to. If we can find a bit more, maybe I can fight with Mercedes.”
The focus now moves on to the grand prix qualifying, which is just a few hours away.
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Heading into the race weekend, the Red Bull driver was third in the drivers’ championship, 36 points behind leader Norris and 35 points behind Oscar Piastri in second. Now, after the latter crashed out of the sprint race, Verstappen has closed the gap to Piastri to 30 points, while Norris has extended his lead to 39 points over Verstappen and nine points over his McLaren team-mate.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Verstappen wasn’t particularly happy during sprint qualifying yesterday with vibration and ride problems.
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“A lot of vibration in the car, a lot of just ride problems,” he explained after sprint qualifying. “So, yeah, not what we want. But I mean, besides that, I think also we just don’t have the grip.
“The middle sector is terrible, so just can’t get the car to turn. But at the same time, also, I can’t really rely on the rear. So, yeah, for us, just quite poor, I would say. Yeah, that’s what it is.”
Qualifying for the Brazil Grand Prix is set to take place at 3pm local time (6pm UK time).
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Photos from Sao Paulo GP – Sprint Race
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Mark Thompson – Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Fan atmosphere in the fan zone
Fan atmosphere in the fan zone
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Hector Vivas / Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Hector Vivas / Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Hector Vivas / Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Hector Vivas / Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Mark Thompson – Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Pauline Ballet / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Cockpit cooling in the Aston Martin F1 Team garage
Cockpit cooling in the Aston Martin F1 Team garage
Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Kym Illman / Getty Images
Fans
Fans
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Hector Vivas / Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Franco Colapinto, Alpine crash
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Franco Colapinto, Alpine crash
Kym Illman / Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Peter Fox / Getty Images
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Hector Vivas / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Peter Fox / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Michael Potts / LAT Images via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Michael Potts / LAT Images via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Lando Norris, McLaren, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Kym Illman / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
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