Verstappen regains victory in Brazil ahead of the Alpines of Ocon and Gasly and gets closer to a 4th title

We are never disappointed with the Brazilian Grand Prix. The 2024 edition was no exception to the rule. While the rain had postponed qualifying until Sunday morning with Norris on pole and Max Verstappen 17th, it reappeared in the race to drive it completely crazy. And in this madness where it was above all a matter of surviving, the Dutchman returned to victory in front of the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. Its first since Spain, on June 23. A success which almost puts an end to the suspense in the world title.

Survive was really the word on Sunday at Interlagos, because at the time of the formation lap, Alex Albon was already out after destroying his Williams in qualifying in the morning despite the 7th fastest time and Carlos Sainz, 13th, started from the pit lane. Lance Stroll, 10th, was there but only for a few seconds since he was going to hit the wall… from the warm-up lap before calmly landing in the gravel trap to abandon even before the start, delayed by twenty minutes for now.

Russell surprises Norris at the start, Verstappen unleashed

And when the lights went out, George Russell was much better awake than Lando Norris because at the first corner, the Mercedes came out in front of the McLaren and would hold this position for 29 laps. The two Britons, comfortable in these conditions, quickly got away leaving Tsunoda, Ocon and Leclerc more than eight seconds behind. 17th on the grid, Max Verstappen was in tenth place after two laps and in sixth after eleven laps. Unleashed, the Batavian found the fault with his intermediates on Leclerc when the latter initiated the pit stops on lap 24. Behind, the mistakes were numerous with off-track from Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz or errors from Liam Lawson or even Sergio Perez. The rain then increased and Hulkenberg made a mistake on lap 28, causing a virtual safety car.

The winning bet of Ocon, Verstappen and Gasly

Everyone rushed to the pits except the first five (Russell, Norris, Tsunoda, Ocon and Verstappen) and Gasly in order to make a less costly stop in time. They were imitated on the following lap by Russell and Norris but at the end of the virtual safety car. A mistake. Ocon, Verstappen and Gasly remained on the track and in the top 3 ahead of Russell and Norris. The deluge then fell on São Paulo, a real ice rink, but Norris passed Russell with great courage when the safety car was out to avoid a tragedy. This would quickly turn into a red flag as Franco Colapinto crashed his Williams into the wall. Everyone was called to the pits and given the opportunity to change their tires “for free”. The dream for the top 3.

The fourth title in Vegas for Verstappen?

After a good twenty minutes of interruption, the race resumed with a flying start, and new tires, well managed by Ocon who stayed the course ahead of Verstappen and Gasly but on lap 39, Sainz made another mistake and caused a safety car . On the restart, Ocon did not have the same success this time and Verstappen went to the inside at turn 1 of lap 43. The Batavian glutton took the lead and was not going to let go, stringing together the best laps. Behind Norris, already the author of a mistake on the first restart, still missed the second and lost places against Leclerc and Piastri. As well as his title hopes? Certainly. Finally sixth, and unable to overtake Leclerc at the end of the race, Norris lost 18 points on Verstappen and went to Vegas 62 points behind. A chasm.

Norris sixth because in the middle, the Alpines of Esteban Ocon, second, and Pierre Gasly, third, interposed with George Russell. The French shone with this choice to stay on the track and take advantage of luck and the red flag. A crazy but winning bet for the Blues who scored 35 points this weekend, including 33 in the race. Enough to put Alpine back in sixth place among manufacturers. Both for Verstappen and for the French, this Brazilian weekend was miraculous.