Can a helmet capture the spirit of Brazil? Verstappen will sport Brazil’s green, yellow and blue at the São Paulo Grand Prix this weekend.
He swapped his usual red‑white‑blue livery for the national colors, posting the design on Instagram with the line, “Bringing some samba to São Paulo.”
Last year he already hinted at the celebration, adding gold and green touches to his lion motif and calling the race “special.”
The personal link runs deep: his partner Kelly Piquet is Nelson Piquet’s daughter, and he counts fellow Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto of Audi among his close friends.
Interlagos has also gifted him some of his career’s most unforgettable moments.
Back in 2016, merely his second F1 season, he clawed back from 16th with 16 laps left to finish third in the wet – a early glimpse of his talent.
In my view, his three Interlagos victories – 2019, 2023 and 2024 – define his legacy, especially the 2024 drive that saw him rise from 17th in torrential rain to claim a win and edge toward a fourth title.
Even last year, after starting from the pit lane, he surged to third, ending just 0.5 seconds behind rookie Kimi Antonelli.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Entering São Paulo in fine form, Verstappen secured a win in Mexico last weekend, marking his sixth victory there. While Antonelli has already sealed the championship, a triumph on Verstappen’s favored track would boost his momentum heading into the season finale.
He isn’t the only one tweaking racewear; Antonelli will don a helmet honoring Ayrton Senna, and both he and George Russell will sport purple Mercedes suits throughout the weekend.
Will Verstappen’s Brazilian tribute spark a dominant finish as the championship heats up?
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– The Team