Verstappen surprised to be second in F1 standings behind Kimi Antonelli before São Paulo GP

A surprise in the standings

Max Verstappen is second in the world championship behind Kimi Antonelli, the Italian who won his first world title at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, 1 November. Speaking at the press day for the São Paulo Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver described his position as unexpected after a slow start to the year. He said the team had many problems early on and that the car was not the one they had wanted. Verstappen also said the team kept searching for improvements, and that he was glad the season had been turned around.

“That is a big surprise, but we take it as it is.”

Turning the season around

Verstappen's first podium of the season came only in the fifth race, when he finished third at the Canadian Grand Prix. His first win came in the 16th race of the season, the Bahrain Grand Prix, and since then he has won three of the last four races. He also said he gives his maximum even when that means finishing sixth, and that when he complains on team radio it is because he wants more from the car and believes there is potential to do better.

Antonelli's record and Wolff's jab

Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest Formula 1 champion in the sport's history, surpassing Sebastian Vettel. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, used the moment to take a swipe at rivals, saying Ferrari and Red Bull would not have put a driver so young straight into their best car. In Wolff's account, they would have sent him to a small team, as they did with Oliver Bearman. The comments were published by SoyMotor. Mercedes chose the young Antonelli when names such as Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz were being linked to a seat there after Lewis Hamilton left for Ferrari. Antonelli has had a season that left his teammate George Russell far behind.

The São Paulo race

The Grand Prix of São Paulo at Interlagos is scheduled for Sunday, 8 November, with the race starting at 18:00 Dutch time over 71 laps. Verstappen said the track is fantastic and that he had come through from the back there before, adding that races are often crazy partly because of the weather. Rain could fall during the weekend, and tyre degradation is expected to be high, with a sequence of corners that makes the race full of unknowns. Races at Interlagos in recent years have rarely been dull, with weather and overtaking manoeuvres providing much of the spectacle. There is no Sprint this year, which gives teams more time to prepare. Asked who the favourite is, Verstappen said there are many variables and that they would have to see how it unfolds.