Max Verstappen moved closer to securing his fourth consecutive F1 title by winning the Brazilian Grand Prix after starting from 17th position. Verstappen’s victory extended his lead over McLaren‘s Lando Norris by 62 points with three races remaining. The Dutch driver could clinch the championship in vegas later this month by finishing ahead of Norris, reported AP.
Despite facing penalties and wet weather, Verstappen claimed his first win since June and eighth Grand Prix victory of the year, finishing nearly 20 seconds ahead. He also achieved the fastest lap 17 times during the race, earning an extra point.Verstappen started with a five-place grid penalty after replacing his engine for the sixth time this season and lost a point due to another penalty in Saturday’s sprint race.
His qualifying session was interrupted while he was trying to clock a fast lap.”My emotions today were a roller coaster,” Verstappen said. “We stayed out of trouble, we made the right calls and we were flying.” He emphasized the importance of the victory in Brazil for his title bid.Lando Norris, who started from pole position, finished sixth after struggling with the wet conditions. He avoided a larger point loss due to an investigation that resulted in a fine for breaching the FIA‘s start procedure.
The race saw key moments, including a virtual safety car during the 27th lap when Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg spun off. Verstappen and other leading drivers chose not to pit, which proved to be advantageous. A subsequent red flag allowed them to change tires without losing positions, increasing the pressure on Norris.
After the race, Norris said, “It was the right time to box. We were just unlucky.”The tense race saw Mercedes‘ Lewis Hamilton, who finished 10th, praise Verstappen. “An amazing drive, congrats,” Hamilton said on Instagram.The bumpy track at Interlagos received criticism from drivers, with Aston Martin‘s Fernando Alonso seeking treatment for back pain after the race.
Ahead of the race, Lewis Hamilton drove the late Ayrton Senna’s 1990 title-winning car, moving many fans to tears.The next race is in Las Vegas on November 23, followed by Qatar on December 1 and Abu Dhabi on December 8, with 86 points still available.
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