01
Tommo and Calum debrief the weekend at Interlagos
27 min
Tommo and Calum debrief the weekend at Interlagos
02
Hear from Max and Isack after a double podium in Brazil
1 min
Hear from Max and Isack after a double podium in Brazil
Starting P21 and making our way up to P2 was a crazy result! We had a lot of fun in the first stint, with great pace and quite a few overtakes, so I was really happy with that.
I’ve never faced so many challenges in a single race, but we handled them really well as a Team and I’m very happy we came away with a double podium.
Overall, this double podium is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the hard work, commitment and determination that define this Team.
03
Magic Max takes P2 from P21 as Isack makes it a double podium
Max Verstappen delivered another simply magical Interlagos drive to climb from 21st on the grid to second at the flag at the end of an action-packed, rain-affected São Paulo Grand Prix. Isack Hadjar doubled the celebrations by claiming third place, handing the Team its second double podium finish of the season.
“It was a challenging race,” said Max, who won in Brazil in 2024 after starting 17th and finished P3 last year after starting from the pit lane. “I think the first few laps, of course, were very important. I overtook a lot of cars, and actually that first stint on the Inters was really, really strong. After that, I don't know if we picked up some kind of damage, because the car felt like the complete opposite of anything I’d experienced all weekend, with some really weird balance. Unfortunately, once I got into P2, I couldn't really make any inroads. But starting P21 and finishing on the podium in second, I think, is a very good result.”
Isack also enjoyed a dramatic afternoon, holding off Kimi Antonelli in a tight battle as the rain intensified in the closing stages before eventually pulling away from the two Mercedes cars to secure his third podium of the season.
When the lights went out, front-row starter Kimi got the jump on slow-starting Polesitter Lando Norris to take the lead, while Liam Lawson also passed the outgoing Champion as the field swept through the Senna S. Behind them, Isack made a strong start from P5 and powered past Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg to move into fourth.
Further back, Max got away well from P21 and immediately went on the attack, charging past a host of rivals to reach P12 by the end of the opening lap. Over the following two laps, he swept past Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Haas’ Ollie Bearman before pressuring Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton into a mistake on the damp, slippery track to claim ninth.
He then climbed to P7 with a remarkable double move on lap 5. The Dutchman took a wide line into Turn 3, found more grip than Oscar Piastri and, as the pair powered towards Descida do Lago, roared past around the outside. That wasn’t enough for Max, however. When Williams’ out-of-position Alex Albon braked early, Max dived down the inside to claim two places in the space of a couple of hundred metres.
Further ahead, Isack was closing in on Lando and Liam. The McLaren driver passed the VCARB, and Isack immediately followed suit to take third. However, within three laps, the Frenchman was under pressure from George Russell, and on lap 10 the Mercedes driver managed to get ahead of Isack at Turn 12, Junção.
Behind him, Max’s charge continued. After easing past Audi’s Nico, the Dutchman chased down Liam and powered past the Kiwi on lap 11 to take fifth, just over three seconds behind Isack.
Lewis was the first to blink, pitting for slick Softs on lap 15. That sparked a flurry of stops, with Isack making his first visit to the pits for Softs on lap 17. George pitted on the following lap, but the Mercedes driver spun in the pit lane. As he struggled to get his car pointing in the right direction, Isack and a host of others swept past.
Max also made his first stop on lap 18, rejoining in fourth, behind race leader Kimi, Lando and Isack.
However, on lap 20, Kimi, now also on Softs, reported that his car was feeling “weird” before spinning at Turn 1. That allowed Lando to cruise into the lead.
Aware of Kimi’s difficulties, Isack quickly closed in and the young Italian went into another spin at Turn 1. The Frenchman seized the opportunity and dived past to take second place.
Max also took advantage, easing past at Turn 1 on lap 24 when the Mercedes driver again ran wide.
The order remained unchanged for the following 15 laps, with Max reporting a loss of downforce to the pit wall. The Dutchman gradually adapted to the imbalance and, as the race passed half-distance, began to close on Isack.
With Max now running marginally quicker, Isack allowed his team-mate through at the start of lap 39, giving the four-time Champion the chance to chase down Lando, who was now 10 seconds clear at the head of the field.
On lap 46, Max dived into the pit lane to fit a second set of Softs. He emerged in P5, 13 seconds behind Oscar, but a flurry of fastest laps soon sliced four seconds off the Australian’s advantage.
On lap 50, Lando decided he could not make it to the end on his first set of Softs and pitted for a fresh set. Isack was briefly promoted to the lead of the Grand Prix. However, the Frenchman made his own stop for fresh Softs on lap 51, emerging behind George, who was due for another pit stop.
As further stops unfolded, Max climbed back to second, 7.4 seconds behind Lando. On lap 54, Isack arrowed past the slower George into Turn 4 to reclaim a podium position with 16 laps remaining.
However, Kimi had recovered from his earlier difficulties and was beginning to close in on Isack. The Mercedes driver wasn’t the only threat. Above the track, the clouds had rolled in and rain was beginning to fall.
With 10 laps to go, conditions deteriorated. At the end of the following lap, Lando and Max dived into the pits for Intermediate tyres. Isack followed his team-mate in and, by the time both were halfway down the long Reta Oposta straight, the rain was falling heavily.
With Lando too far up the road and Isack stretching his advantage over the Mercedes pair, the Bulls carefully managed the final 10 laps to secure a brilliant double podium finish. The result holds the Team’s hold on third place in the Constructors’ Championship, with three rounds remaining.