Max Verstappen's Brazilian Grand Prix victory was almost a sideshow to the drama that unfolded in the Red Bull garage prior to the start of the race. The Dutch driver's frustrations boiled over as Lando Norris's pace in qualifying left him reeling, with Verstappen finishing in fourth place, behind Norris's second place.
Verstappen's deficit in fourth place sparked fears that Lando Norris's blistering qualifying pace could see the McLaren driver take a seismic chunk out of Verstappen's 44-point title lead. A Norris win in Brazil, coupled with a poor points haul for Verstappen, had the potential to be a significant blow to the reigning champion's bid for a third consecutive world title.
According to insiders within the Red Bull camp, Verstappen was fuming at his poor qualifying performance and was keen to get to the bottom of what had gone so spectacularly wrong for him in qualifying. Sources close to the team have described Verstappen as enraged, with some even suggesting that the driver wanted to 'destroy' the garage in a fit of rage.
However, a clear-the-air team meeting and some soul-searching from the engineers would eventually turn Verstappen's fortunes around. A team effort to recalibrate the car's setup paid massive dividends as the reigning champion romped to victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix.
For a time, Lando Norris's pace had Verstappen on the back foot but ultimately, it was the Red Bull driver who had the last laugh. As he took the chequered flag in Interlagos, Verstappen's celebrations were a testament to the relief felt within the Red Bull garage after what had been a rollercoaster 24 hours in Brazil.