Red Bull drivers left frustrated after dramatic Q2 exit in Sao Paulo as they assess chances of gaining ground in Grand Prix

Max Verstappen was left frustrated after exiting a dramatic wet qualifying session for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Q2. With a grid penalty still to come his way for the race itself, it’s a result that could have huge implications in the championship battle.

The Red Bull man was hampered after Lance Stroll’s crash brought out the red flags late on in the second segment of qualifying, leaving him down in P12 and unable to set a faster lap time, while the session couldn’t be resumed with so little time left on the clock.

READ MORE: Norris beats Russell and Tsunoda to pole position in Sao Paulo amid five red flags in dramatic rain-affected qualifying

Now facing a provisional P17 starting spot for the Grand Prix, thanks to his five-place penalty for taking on a new internal combustion engine, his lowly position could have a significant impact on his hopes of retaining the drivers’ title – as fellow title challenger Lando Norris went on to take a stunning pole in the wet conditions at Interlagos.

While Verstappen can have hopes of starting a spot or two higher up the grid – thanks to the likes of Stroll, Fernando Alonso, Franco Colapinto, Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz facing hefty repair jobs before the start of the race after their respective red flag-inducing crashes – the Dutchman was unhappy when speaking in the media pen afterwards.

“I find it unbelievable,” he said. “The car [Stroll] goes into the wall, broken, it’s clearly destroyed but they wait 30-40 seconds so everyone else can just complete their lap times.

“Of course the ones behind cannot even do a lap. I can’t get my head around it – how that is possible to just let it go for 30 seconds, 40 seconds? That, of course, ruins qualifying.

AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from red flag-filled qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

“We’re already limited with the pits because we’re at the back so when you do the restart time, you have to wait until you go out so we are always at the back. But then… it really blows my mind.”

With the Sao Paulo Grand Prix set to be another wet affair, there could be plenty of opportunities for drivers looking to make gains in the unpredictable conditions.

However, when asked about his hopes in the race, Verstappen stated: “[We’re] starting far in the back so it will be quite difficult to pass around here with all the spray and the amount of rain, but we’ll have a look.”

The three-time world champion’s Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez was another victim of the late red flag in Q2, as the Mexican exited the session in P13, which has added a further blow to the team’s hopes of clawing back ground in the constructors’ championship.

“Yeah, it was a bit of a shame what happened with the red flag out there, but it is what it is,” Perez said after hopping out of the car. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the lap when we needed it. It’s what really matters.”

MUST-SEE: Sainz brings out second red flag of qualifying with slide into the wall at Interlagos

He continued: “It’s going to be hard to race from here because having 12 cars ahead of us, it will be a very tricky one.”

The rescheduled Sao Paulo Grand Prix is due to get going at 1230 local time with Norris starting on pole ahead of George Russell in P2 and Yuki Tsunoda in P3.