Max Verstappen loses podium finish in Sao Paulo Sprint after post-race penalty

Verstappen demoted to fourth place after VSC infringement

Max Verstappen has lost his third-place finish in the Sao Paulo Sprint after being handed a five-second time penalty for a Safety Car infringement. The Red Bull driver was initially classified third on the road but was later penalised for overtaking Fernando Alonso under a Virtual Safety Car.

Penalty drops Verstappen to fourth

The penalty drops Verstappen to fourth place, promoting Alonso to the podium. Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton remain first and second respectively.

Verstappen disappointed with penalty

Verstappen was visibly disappointed with the penalty, saying he did not believe he had done anything wrong. He said: "I don't think I did anything wrong. I was just trying to get a good restart. I don't know what else I could have done."

Decision could have major impact on championship

The decision could have a major impact on the championship, with Verstappen now 24 points behind Hamilton with just four races remaining.

Penalty met with mixed reaction

The penalty has been met with a mixed reaction from fans and pundits. Some believe that Verstappen was unfairly punished, while others believe that the penalty was justified.

Penalty follows similar incident in Russia

The penalty is the second time Verstappen has been penalised for a Safety Car infringement this season. He was also penalised in Russia for a similar offence.

Verstappen will be hoping to bounce back in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Verstappen will be hoping to bounce back from the disappointment of the penalty in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The race takes place on Sunday, November 14.