Verstappen showered with praise for Brazilian GP podium despite pit lane start: 'That's why he's a four-time world champion'

Mercedes AMG F1 team principal Toto Wolff admitted that he had nothing but respect for reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen after the Dutchman finished third at Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix despite starting from the pit lane.

The Red Bull Racing star had qualified 16th on Saturday at the Interlagos Circuit in Sao Paulo on Saturday, failing to advance from Q1 on merit.

And due to the fact that he was running a fresh engine and an entirely new Red Bull setup, with his team replacing his car’s floor in the garage, he was required to start from the pit lane. Things would then go worse for the Dutch racer as he had to make an early pit stop due to a puncture.

Wolff reveals admiration for Verstappen after Interlagos heroics

Verstappen, however, would go on to highlight why he has won each of the last four driver’s titles, joining an elite list of individuals securing a podium finish after starting from the pit lane.

“It’s quite interesting, the big step that hey made. They changed the floor, they went to the oldest. Fresh engine obviously always helps, like we had with Lewis back in the days. But never discount Max, even if he starts from last,” Wolff was quoted by RacingNews365 as saying after the Brazilian GP.

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“A few years ago it was a wet race, so you kind of get your head around it, but that was a dry race. That’s the reason why he’s a four-time world champion,” the Austrian motorsport executive and former racer added.

Running out of superlatives... #F1 #BrazilGP @Max33Verstappen pic.twitter.com/vYi09pL1dO

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 9, 2025

A driver starting from the pit lane is permitted to enter the main track only when each of the cars starting from the grid has passed a designated point, effectively relegating him to the last position. And Verstappen became just the eighth driver – and the first since Lewis Hamilton at the 2014 Hungarian GP – to achieve a podium finish after starting in the pit lane.

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Verstappen had faced a similar situation at Interlagos last year when he had started from the 17th position on the grid, although he would go on to win the event ahead of Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.

Verstappen admits he ‘didn’t expect that at all’

Verstappen too expressed pride in his stunning turnaround in Brazil, adding that he was not expecting such a turnaround himself.

“I think our pace was quite strong over all the stints because sometimes it’s difficult to know fully with traffic and stuff,” the 28-year-old said after the race.

“So, to be on the podium from the pit lane, I didn’t expect that at all, even with a puncture at the beginning of the race.

“That is why we had to box again so it’s an incredible result for us and I’m very happy with that. I’m very proud of everyone within the team as well,” he added.

Incredible result for us after a rough start to the weekend. Very proud of the team @redbullracing, we never give up 💪

Thank you to everyone around the track for the amazing support 🙌 pic.twitter.com/BXqwxHVhPa

— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) November 9, 2025

Verstappen, however, conceded that he had to be “realistic” about a late charge to a fifth consecutive driver’s title ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who currently occupy the top-two spots ahead of him.

“We’ve got to be realistic. Over the whole season, we’ve not been good enough, but we will keep on trying to win races and see what happens,” he added in his post-race comments.

British driver Norris, who the Brazilian GP ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, continues to lead the standings with 390 points ahead of his Australian McLaren teammate Piastri by 24 points.

Verstappen, who has made an impressive recovery in recent races after his form nosedived earlier in the season, currently sits at the third spot with 341 points. And with just three races left this season, a fifth consecutive driver’s title looks highly unlikely at the moment.