MAX VERSTAPPEN’S BRAZIL WEEKEND SHOCK — PIT LANE START LOOMING
Red Bull may start Max Verstappen from the pit lane at the Brazilian GP after a shocking Q1 exit. The team is considering "drastic changes" to fix the RB21's setup, a move that would break parc fermé rules.
Max Verstappen was dealt a blow in his hopes of closing the gap to Lando Norris as he was knocked out in Q1 at Interlagos - Photo Credit: Getty Images
Red Bull is considering starting Verstappen in the pits following the Q1 shock.
Red Bull appeared to have finally found their stride again when it arrived in Interlagos. They were back in a hole by the end of qualifying, and they were facing a humiliating call that might force Max Verstappen to start in the pit lane on Sunday.
The RB21 was obviously lacking in speed and grip in all the wrong spots, and teammate Yuki Tsunoda was similarly unable to get out of the first sector after Verstappen was knocked out in Q1. Between the Sprint and qualification, the team reversed the cars out of the parc fermé, followed a daring course, and ended up getting lost. The dilemma now is whether to rip it up, break parc fermé once more, and start from the pits, or to double down on a misfiring configuration.
Helmut Marko was straightforward. Despite being fully aware that doing so would require Verstappen to launch from the pits rather than the P16 he now drives, he told Austrian TV that Red Bull will sit down and determine whether "drastic alterations" are required to wake the car up. Marko's conclusion was straightforward: Red Bull did not increase, the track climbed up, and grip vanished where it mattered. The stopwatch verified that Sectors 1 and 3 were the warning signs.
Just when Verstappen had established a run of six consecutive podium finishes to bolster his title challenge following Lando Norris' surge at the front, this is a gut punch. The wobble was previously hinted at in Mexico: Verstappen's podium there was more down to skill than speed in a race that Norris controlled, and Red Bull supplied bits but failed to receive the return. The group believed they had grasped the direction. Brazil disagrees.
The voice was regretful within the garage. When you roll the dice before quali and snake eyes appear, it is "the price you pay," as Laurent Mekies put it. The RB21 fell out of its sweet spot despite Red Bull's best efforts to expand its window for Interlagos' bumps and quick changes. It was apprehensive upon entrance, lethargic on traction, and far from compliant during the quick direction change at the Senna "S" and the sprint back up the hill during qualifying trim.
What is the play, then? Rather than violate parc fermé, take a pit-lane start, and give Verstappen a car he can really race with, why not stick with a problematic package and trust him to brute-force something out of it starting on 16th? If the car reacts, Interlagos may reward a clean, aggressive Sunday with chances offered by DRS trains and tyre life. Pit lane becomes less of a punishment and more of a reset if you are Red Bull and you think the baseline is essentially incorrect.
That path has a strategic advantage. The team is able to make ride height, wing, and mechanical adjustments that could extend the RB21's operating window and safeguard the back tyres, which is crucial in this situation, thanks to a pit-lane start. Interlagos loves a curveball, and if Safety Cars mess up the order, it also opens up an off-sequence approach. The danger is clear: by sacrificing track position, you could have recovered with a clean first lap and a focus on safety. Everyone in the garage wearing navy blue usually ends up with a car that Verstappen can rely on as a reward.
We all see the wider picture. Red Bull cannot afford to let free points linger in a setup sheet as Norris leads the rankings going into São Paulo. Even though Verstappen has been making podiums out of weak weekends, this one needs more than just tyre expertise. It must be reset.
Soon, we will be able to tell which way they jump. In any case, Sunday has already evolved into a test of a different kind for Verstappen and damage limitation for Red Bull. The nasty weekends, where you battle the car just as much as the field, are often crucial to title runs. This is among them. It might also be the day that Red Bull's season turns around if they have the courage. Otherwise, be prepared for a long afternoon attempting to get an uncooperative RB21 to cooperate around a circuit that penalises hesitation.
The margin has disappeared. A single swing can transform the automobile from compliant to difficult, and Red Bull's latest improvements have not produced the desired step. That was made public by Brazil. Who can adjust more quickly, the driver in the cockpit or the engineers on the pit wall? You would bet on the latter with Verstappen. However, the team must allow him to succeed.
WWE FANS EXCITED AS LIV MORGAN DROPS RETURN HINTS
Liv Morgan teases an imminent return from her shoulder injury on WWE programming. The former Women's World Champion hinted fans will have to "watch" for her comeback soon during a Stranger Things premiere.
Liv Morgan sparks rumors with Stranger Things premiere appearance - Photo Credit: WWE
When can we expect to see Liv Morgan on WWE programming once more?
Following an unfortunate dislocated shoulder injury sustained during the June 16 episode of RAW, the former Women's World Champion has been absent from the WWE Universe. She may return sooner rather than later, though, based on a recent tease.
WWE Superstar Liv Morgan was present at Stranger Things Season 5's red carpet premiere. Morgan believed that Dominik Mysterio, the current double champion and member of The Judgment Day, would be the best WWE Superstar to defeat a Demogorgon.
"As the AAA Mega Champion and the WWE Intercontinental Champion, he can pretty much do anything," Liv Morgan remarked.
Regarding her professional life, Morgan acknowledges that she would be delighted to have Eleven as her tag team partner because she feels the two of them have a lot in common.
"Even after being knocked down, she always gets back stronger and more powerful than before," Liv Morgan remarked. She is the most recognisable. Since I would not have to do any work, she would make the ideal tag team partner. She would go above and above for me.
Morgan did not reveal anything when asked if she would soon be returning to WWE, but she hinted that it might happen soon.
Liv Morgan hinted, "I guess everyone will simply have to watch me."
NFL HITS RAVENS WR WITH PUNISHMENT AFTER DOLPHINS VICTORY
Baltimore Ravens WR Rashod Bateman was fined $25,154 by the NFL for verbal abuse of an official in Week 9. The penalty occurred during the team's 28-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
Ravens WR disciplined - COURTESY/PHOTO
The NFL fined Rashod Bateman for verbally assaulting a referee during the Ravens' victory over the Dolphins in Week 9.
After Lamar Jackson recovered from a hamstring injury in Week 9, the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Miami Dolphins 28–6. The Ravens had their second consecutive victory, and following a dismal start to the 2025 season, they are now feeling upbeat as they enter Week 10.
Nevertheless, the NFL went back and disciplined certain players for their behaviour in Week 9 before turning the page to Sunday's schedule. Rashod Bateman, a wide receiver for Baltimore, was among the players that infuriated the league after receiving a heavy fine for a violation he committed during the team's most recent victory.
The NFL Fines Ravens Wide Receiver Rashod Bateman
Rashod Bateman of the Ravens was fined $25,154 by the NFL for verbally abusing an official last week, which is considered unsportsmanlike behaviour. Bateman was flagged as well.
Expectations of a Super Bowl run were high for Baltimore going into the season. Rather, the club struggled to a 1-5 start, and going into Week 8, their chances of making the playoffs were slim. Tyler Huntley led the team to an unexpected upset victory over the Chicago Bears after he was selected as the starting quarterback over Cooper Rush. A few days later, Jackson's return propelled the squad to their previously noted victory over the Dolphins on Thursday Night Football.
Now that Jackson is playing, the Ravens seem to have endless possibilities. Even though they are only two games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North, Baltimore still has control over their own fate in terms of possibly winning their division because it still has two games against the Steelers left on its schedule.
Although defeating Miami was a significant step in the right direction, there were some negative aspects to this victory. During the game, Bateman yelled obscenities at an official, earning him a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike behavior. However, the NFL did not let him off the hook there; he was also fined $25,154 for his acts.
For verbally abusing an official last week, Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman was fined $25,154 by the NFL for unsportsmanlike behaviour. In a post on X, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero revealed that Bateman was also flagged.
In Week 10, the Ravens aim to win three games in a row.
Even though Bateman probably will not be pleased with his fine, at least it was a win. Bateman, who has only 15 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns this season, will be hoping to regain his position as a major offensive player now that Jackson is back under centre. Baltimore's hopes of making a late-season postseason run will undoubtedly be aided by getting him going in the passing attack.
The Ravens' Week 10 draw against the Minnesota Vikings, who are coming off a huge upset victory over the Detroit Lions, will make things a little more challenging. The game is set to kick off at 1 p.m. ET, and Baltimore needs to win this one if it wants to maintain its prospects of making the playoffs.
Crisafulli, Owen At Heavy, Owen Crisafulli writes breaking news. Owen is a content producer for More Views Media in addition to being a writer for Heavy. ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided have all featured his work, where he offered his opinions on a range of sports-related subjects, mostly pertaining to the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Crisafulli Owen