The Dutch Red Bull driver was rewarded on Sunday in Interlagos with his first triumph since the Spanish GP in June after a remarkable comeback from 17th place on the grid. Sprint winner and pole-sitter Lando Norris had to settle for a disappointing sixth place in the McLaren and lost a lot of ground in the World Championship duel.
With three races and a sprint before the end of the season, Verstappen now leads Norris by a comfortable 62 points. Verstappen also secured the extra point for the fastest lap in the turbulent rain race in Brazil, which was characterized by spins, and gained a total of 18 points. “Do you know what that is? Simply enchanting,” said an overjoyed Verstappen after his eighth win of the season and his 62nd overall. “My emotions were on a roller coaster today. We stayed out of all the trouble. It’s unbelievable to win here, from the very back,” he added in the winner’s interview.
Two Frenchmen complete the podium
The podium in Interlagos was completely surprisingly completed by the two French Alpine pilots Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who had not finished higher than ninth place in the previous 20 races of the season. “What a day after this difficult season. In the rain all the cars are a little more equal,” said Ocon with joy. “Two cars on the podium, no one would have had that on the list, simply fantastic,” added Gasly, who started the race from 15th place on the grid.
Verstappen did not get past twelfth place in qualifying, which was postponed until Sunday morning due to heavy rain on Saturday and had to be interrupted five times due to several accidents. Due to an engine change, the 27-year-old was moved back five further positions. Norris secured pole position, Mercedes driver George Russell completed the front row.
Alexander Albon was unable to take part in the Grand Prix after his qualifying crash because his Williams car was demolished, and Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz had to drive off from the pit lane. On the introductory lap on the still damp Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Lance Stroll spun his Aston Martin into the barriers and then got stuck in the sand.
Chaotic start phase
In a chaotic start, Norris led another formation lap even though the track was not open. The stewards did not investigate the possible offense of Norris, Russell and the two Racing Bulls Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson until after the race.
The start was postponed by more than a quarter of an hour. Norris got off to a bad start on the intermediate tires, Russell passed the pole setter without any problems. Meanwhile, Verstappen got off to a dream start and was already tenth at the start of the second lap when he maneuvered past record world champion Hamilton. The Red Bull star, who has often excelled in the rain, quickly worked his way through the field, and in the tenth of 69 laps the three-time world champion braked past Oscar Piastri’s McLaren to seventh place.
While Russell maintained a narrow lead over Norris, Tsunoda led a “train” more than ten seconds behind. On the 25th lap the rain became heavier. Nico Hülkenberg parked his Haas car at short notice in the first corner after a spin, thus causing a virtual safety car. Almost all of the top drivers used the VSC phase to change tires to new intermediate tires, only Ocon and Verstappen did not make a pit stop and found themselves at the front of the race.
New set of tires without wasting time
Norris passed Russell on a much wetter track, seconds later the race management decided to use a safety car. On the 32nd lap, Argentinian fan favorite Franco Colapinto wrecked his Williams behind the safety car, causing a red flag. This meant that Verstappen was able to get a new set of tires without wasting any time. After a break of almost half an hour, the race continued behind the safety car.
In poor visibility conditions, Norris fell back to fifth place after a driving error. On lap 40, Sainz also spun off the track and there was a safety car again. The restart brought a possible preliminary decision in the World Championship fight: While Verstappen braked past Ocon into the lead in the first corner, Norris slipped to seventh place. Verstappen steadily increased his lead in the final phase, and Norris was able to overtake his teammate Piastri without resistance.
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When did Max Verstappen join Red Bull
**Interview with Formula 1 Expert, Sarah Thompson**
**Interviewer:** Sarah, thank you for joining us today! After Max Verstappen’s impressive win from 17th place in Interlagos, he expressed concerns about Red Bull’s pace ahead of the Zandvoort race. What do you think are the implications of his comments for the team?
**Sarah Thompson:** Thank you for having me! Verstappen’s admission is quite significant. It indicates that the team is not as confident as we might expect heading into Zandvoort, especially considering their dominance this season. When a driver of Verstappen’s caliber expresses concerns, it suggests that they may have identified weaknesses in their setup or tire performance that could affect their ability to compete.
**Interviewer:** Verstappen has proven his extraordinary skill, particularly in challenging weather conditions, like in Brazil. How do you assess his ability to adapt and overcome like he did recently?
**Sarah Thompson:** Verstappen’s adaptability is one of his greatest strengths. His performance in Brazil showcased not just his driving ability but also his racecraft; managing tire degradation and making strategic decisions in real-time are crucial, especially in wet conditions. That said, with concerns about Red Bull’s pace, it will be interesting to see if he can apply that experience to improve their situation in Zandvoort.
**Interviewer:** The podium in Brazil was surprising, featuring Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly from Alpine. What does this suggest about the competitive landscape in Formula 1 right now?
**Sarah Thompson:** It highlights the unpredictability of this season. Alpine’s performance was unexpected, especially since neither driver had shown such strength earlier in the season. The changing conditions in Brazil leveled the playing field and allowed teams that typically don’t contend for podiums to shine. This kind of outcome adds excitement to the championship and puts additional pressure on top teams like Red Bull to be on their game.
**Interviewer:** with three races left in the season, Verstappen has a significant lead over Lando Norris. What should we expect as the championship battle heats up?
**Sarah Thompson:** Verstappen’s 62-point lead gives him a comfortable buffer, but as we saw in Brazil, anything can happen. With the pressure mounting, every race counts. Norris will be fighting hard to close the gap, especially if Red Bull struggles with pace. If Verstappen can maintain focus and continue to optimize his performance, he could secure the championship early. However, if issues persist, we might see a much more competitive dynamic unfolding.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Sarah! We’re looking forward to the races ahead and seeing how it all unfolds!
