"Sport has never been so dead": Fans react to Max Verstappen getting eliminated in Q1 on the F1 Brazilian GP qualifying

Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen was eliminated in Q1 at the 2025 Brazilian GP. The Dutchman’s woes from the previous session at Interlagos continued into the qualifying session, resulting in a P16 starting position. Fans took to the social media platform X and reacted to Verstappen's Q1 elimination.

Max Verstappen came into the Brazilian GP 36 points behind championship leader Lando Norris. Interlagos has been a happy hunting ground for the Dutchman, and he was expected to be one of the top runners going into the race weekend.

Whilst Verstappen was able to put the RB21 in the Top 10 in sprint qualifying, followed by a P4 in the sprint race, he complained about the ride quality of the car as well as the balance. The team made changes after the sprint as the parc ferme was removed, but it didn't seem to help.

Max Verstappen, after his penultimate lap in Q1, suggested that the ride quality was a bit better but that the car was sliding all over the place. The Red Bull driver went for a final attempt, but the car didn't comply with his inputs, resulting in the Dutchman failing to get a lap time good enough for Q2.

Fans took to the social media platform X and reacted to Verstappen's Q1 exit, suggesting that the championship fight was over.

“Well this is Lando Norris his championship. Sport has never been so dead,” commented a user. “Congratulations Lando Norris for the championship title!!” mentioned another fan A user commented, “The theory of the championship was a short lived dream”

Some fans came out and pointed fingers at Red Bull for failing to get a setup that Max Verstappen was happy with.

“Two years and they still don’t understand their own car and how to maximise the set ups…..they literally doing trial and error….smh” commented a fan “RB21 is a tractor man,” wrote another Another user wrote, “Well it was fun while it lasted.”

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Max Verstappen's helpless team radio from Brazilian GP qualifying

The Red Bull star didn't sound confident about the RB21 after the sprint race, and going into Q1, his struggles in the car continued. After the first run, Verstappen was outside the Top 10 and was put in the elimination zone by others improving on the second run.

Max Verstappen continued to struggle during his final run, which led to helpless team radios.

“Oh my god mate. The car and the ride is a tiny bit better but now sliding in Turn 1,” said Verstappen after his penultimate lap “Let us know if we can help you out with the tools.,” asked Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase“No. I don't really know what to tell you,” responded Max Yeah I have no grip, zero. Brilliant!” said Max after his final lap in Q1.

Verstappen title contenders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri advanced to Q3.

Edited by Pranay Bhagi