Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been told "they can't waste headspace" on Max Verstappen's São Paulo struggles so far, but have been warned of his "genius" should they all be faced with wet conditions at Interlagos.
Verstappen complained of a "completely broken" Red Bull after the second session of sprint qualifying due to a lack of balance and grip in the twisty second sector of Interlagos, where he lost considerable lap time.
The four-time F1 champion will start sixth on the grid for the 24-lap sprint behind polesitter Lando Norris in his McLaren, whose team-mate Oscar Piastri starts third.
Verstappen also has Mercedes duo Kimi Antonelli and George Russell ahead of him, as well as surprise package Fernando Alonso in his Aston Martin.
But with heavy rain forecast, there is jeopardy all around for title pacesetters Norris and Piastri, who are separated by a point going into this weekend.
"He [Norris] will know there's peril, especially on a wet start here," said former F1 driver and Sky Sports F1 co-commentator Martin Brundle.
"I would say McLaren, in general, will be very happy to see Verstappen complaining about the car and struggling, with two Mercedes and an Aston Martin ahead of him as well.
"But I think the drivers have got to that stage of the season where they can't waste any headspace even thinking about that.
"McLaren here in the rain last year, they glazed their brakes and really struggled in the wet conditions. So that's where their focus will be. There'll be a lot of noise around them, and you've got to beat everybody."
McLaren has at least performed better this season in wet conditions, yet Norris and Piastri will be aware of Verstappen's mastery in the wet, particularly a year ago in São Paulo when he scored a stunning victory from 17th on the grid.
"We know Max is a bit of a genius," added Brundle, on the Dutch driver who goes into the weekend 36 points behind Norris. "He's got more confidence, it seems, than anybody else, especially with the overtakes.
"But who knows what's going to happen, whether it's a safety car start, for example, whether there are safety cars involved, and visibility is going to be critical."
Offering impartial advice, however, Brundle added: "For the drivers, honestly, it's straights, lefts and rights. The weather will be what the weather will be, and they've just got to do what they've spent their lives preparing for, and drive the racing car.
"If anything else gets in their head beyond that, you can't second-guess what's going to happen, and you live on your wits into the first corner, especially in those conditions.
"You might be concerned for either McLaren driver that Kimi Antonelli might be a bit gung-ho to take the lead into the first corner, but you've got to react to whatever happens when you get there."
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