Mekies reflects on Verstappen's 'sensational' podium

Max Verstappen delivered a "sensational" drive at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, battling from a pit lane start to secure a remarkable third-place finish. Despite an early puncture, the Red Bull driver showcased incredible pace, prompting Team Principal Laurent Mekies to compare it to his dominant win last year. Red Bull had made significant overnight changes to Verstappen's car after a challenging Sprint, resulting in the pit lane start. Mekies acknowledged the qualifying misstep but defended their risk-taking philosophy, highlighting the car's improved performance on race day. With Verstappen now 49 points behind Lando Norris, the team remains focused on optimizing their car race-by-race, rather than solely on the championship chase.