Max Verstappen was fuming with the Formula 1 race direction after a double Q2 exit for Red Bull in qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix amid a delayed red flag.
Treacherous conditions in Sunday morning’s qualifying session meant several drivers and stoppages occurred throughout.
Williams’ Franco Colapinto bright out a red flag in Q1 and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz did the same mid-way through Q2.
However, it was the second red flag in Q2 that Verstappen found contentious after Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll found the barriers at Turn 3.
As Stroll tried to get his AMR24 going again, race direction held back from waving a red flag for 40 seconds.
This brought an early end to Q2 and dumped both Verstappen and his team-mate Sergio Perez out of qualifying.
“I don’t understand why it needs to take 30, 40 seconds to come out, it’s just bull****,” Verstappen fumed to Sky Sports F1.
“You know, honestly, I let it go It’s so stupid anyway to talk about, it’s ridiculous!”
Max Verstappen will start the Brazil GP from 17th on the grid
Race direction chose to halt the red flag as Stroll fought to get his Aston Martin back underway.
Once it became apparent he was stranded, then the red flag was waved.
Verstappen’s frustration might be misplaced however, given he was running in 11th at the time the incident occurred and looked likely to fall out of Q2 anyway.
Moreover, having gone through double-waved yellows on his final lap, any improved effort by Verstappen would have been deleted.
12th in Q2 for Verstappen, coupled with a five-place grid penalty for an engine change means the Dutchman will line up for Sunday’s GP at Interlagos from 17th on the grid.
With title rival Lando Norris progressing to the Q3 top-10 shootout, qualifying could have a major impact on Verstappen’s championship defence.
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