Max Verstappen surged from 17th on the grid to claim victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in a masterful performance, bringing him within reach of his fourth world title.
Verstappen’s rival, McLaren’s Lando Norris, finished a challenging race in sixth, suffering two critical errors that leave him trailing by 62 points with only 86 remaining in the season.
The race kicked off with drama as Lance Stroll’s spin during the formation lap led to an aborted start. However, instead of stopping as required, Norris set off on a second formation lap, inadvertently leading much of the field along. As the race resumed, Verstappen quickly advanced, ultimately overtaking the competition to claim his 62nd career victory in one of Formula 1’s most memorable wet-weather races. This triumph, his first since June’s Spanish Grand Prix, underscored his skill and Red Bull’s strategic precision amid unpredictable conditions.
Alpine teammates Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly rounded out the podium, propelling Alpine up from ninth to sixth in the constructors’ championship. The wet and chaotic race included a red flag, multiple safety cars, and intense skirmishes, each incident emphasizing Verstappen’s dominance in tough conditions.
Verstappen’s Path to Victory
After a penalty placed him 17th on the grid, Verstappen wasted no time, gaining six positions on the opening lap and reaching sixth by lap 12. Amid worsening rain, Verstappen found himself in a tightly packed group with drivers like Yuki Tsunoda, Ocon, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
A series of pit stops due to intensified rain saw Leclerc, Tsunoda, Russell, and Norris swapping tires for added grip, but Red Bull and Alpine took a gamble, keeping Verstappen and Ocon out on worn intermediates, betting on a red flag—and it paid off. With the red flag triggered by an incident involving Franco Colapinto’s Williams, Verstappen and Ocon gained a free tire change, giving them a valuable track position advantage.
On the restart, Verstappen quickly passed Ocon, establishing a strong lead and setting a series of fastest laps, ultimately finishing 19.5 seconds ahead of the field.
Norris’s Title Hopes Slip Further
Meanwhile, Norris, who started on pole, lost the lead to George Russell’s Mercedes and later slipped down the order following critical mistakes. On the first restart, Norris ran wide at Turn Four, allowing Russell to overtake. Another error on the second restart saw him running off-track at Turn One, dropping him to seventh before he reclaimed sixth after McLaren instructed teammate Oscar Piastri to let him by.
Norris’s championship hopes now hang by a thread, as he may also face a penalty for his error at the start.
As the Sao Paulo Grand Prix wraps up, the season’s intensity carries over to the next race in Las Vegas on November 23, where Verstappen could clinch the title if he leaves with a 60-point lead.
Source: BBC Sports
