Max Verstappen is once again a Grand Prix winner, this has not been the case since the Barcelona event last June. The Dutchman emerged victorious from a completely incredible race where a thousand and one things happened.
The Red Bull driver started from 17th place but was the 15th driver in the starting order. Qualified in 12th position this Sunday morning, after being trapped by a red flag triggered by Lance Stroll's exit from the track during qualifying, Verstappen also had to serve his five-place penalty for changing power unit, but Alex Albon, who withdrew, and therefore Stroll were absent on the grid
This distant position did not prevent the three-time world champion from starting his rise in the peloton from the start, entering directly into the top 10, after only the first lap. While he was sixth, a Virtual Safety Car was triggered after an error by Nico Hülkenberg.
The two leaders of the event at that time, Lando Norris and George Russell, returned as the track turned green again, leaving Esteban Ocon, Verstappen and Pierre Gasly to take the reins of the race, choosing to stay out . A gamble that paid off as it was only a few laps later that Franco Colapinto triggered a red flag, thus giving the three leading men a “free” pit stop.
The Grand Prix restarted a first time, then a second time after Carlos Sainz's accident, and it was on the second restart that Verstappen was able to seize the lead of the race, before literally flying to the checkered flag. “My emotions have been a real roller coaster today.”explained Verstappen on the microphone of former Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello, following the race. “With qualifying, the bad luck of the red flag, the start in P17, I knew the race was going to be very difficult.”
“But we stayed out of trouble, we made the right decisions, we stayed calm and, most importantly, we flew. All of that made this result possible. But I mean… it's amazing to win here being so far back on the grid.”
VIDEO – Verstappen takes the lead, Norris makes a mistake at the São Paulo GP
It was in heavy rain and on a wet track that Verstappen got the better of Ocon on the 43rd lap of the race. The Dutchman dived at the first corner, surprising the Frenchman, allowing him to take first place.
“It was really difficult to overtake here with the new tarmac”added the Red Bull driver. “There's only one line to follow. But yeah, I knew I had to go for it, it's always easy to block the front, so I tried to balance that and I had confidence in the brakes too, it helps. The first corner is always very interesting for overtaking.”
In addition to this victory won in style, Max Verstappen gets his hands on the drivers' championship trophy. With Lando Norris' sixth place, the leader of the standings increased his lead by 62 points over the McLaren driver, and could even be titled at the Las Vegas GP, finishing ahead of his British rival.
