Show me respect! That’s what Verstappen’s performance at the Brazil Grand Prix shouted at both Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
We were expecting a furious charge by Ferrari to close the gap for leadership of the Constructors Championship. Similarly we were expecting Norris for McLaren to put pressure on Verstappen for the Drivers Championship… especially as Norris had grabbed pole.
Ferrari and McLaren were the teams to watch in Brazil. Instead, Max Verstappen delivered a breathtaking victory for Red Bull at the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, overcoming immense challenges to reestablish his dominance in the Formula 1 World Championship. Starting from a daunting 17th position on the grid, the Dutchman navigated chaotic, rain-soaked conditions to secure his first win since June’s Spanish Grand Prix, proving once again why he’s at the peak of his craft. Verstappen’s triumph was a masterclass in wet-weather racing and decisive team strategy, coming in a race characterized by a red flag, multiple safety car interventions, and a host of collisions.
Bitter Pill for Ferrari and McLaren
While Verstappen’s dazzling performance helped him increase his championship lead over Norris to 62 points with only three races left, the day was a bitter pill for Ferrari and McLaren—teams that had entered the race as favourites . McLaren, who had achieved a 1-2 finish in the sprint race on Saturday and looked poised for further success, saw their hopes unravel. Lando Norris, despite starting from pole, struggled for pace and made critical mistakes, finishing sixth. Teammate Oscar Piastri finished seventh but dropped to eighth after receiving a penalty for a clash with Liam Lawson. Ultimately, McLaren was outscored by Red Bull by five points but retains a 36-point advantage over Ferrari who are sitting second in the Constructors’ Championship, 13 points ahead of Red Bull.
Ferrari, meanwhile, missed a significant opportunity to close the gap in the championship race. Charles Leclerc, who described the race as “damage limitation,” finished fifth. His struggles were compounded by a suboptimal car setup that left him unable to match the pace needed to capitalize on McLaren’s difficulties. Carlos Sainz added to Ferrari’s woes by crashing out, marking a setback for a team that had shown strong form in recent races. The treacherous conditions and lack of overtaking ability made it even more frustrating, particularly as both Alpine drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, secured surprise podium finishes and moved their team up to sixth in the Constructors’ standings .
Looking ahead, Formula 1 now braces for an intense final stretch of three races, beginning with the highly anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix. For Charles Leclerc and Ferrari, these races will be crucial in the ongoing battle for Constructors’ Championship glory, while Verstappen is on the brink of clinching his fourth drivers’ title, needing only to maintain a 62 point lead after Las Vegas .
Ferrari & Charles Leclerc
Ferrari currently sits second in the Constructors’ Championship. With a few races remaining, Ferrari led by Charles Leclerc remains in contention, although securing the title is a challenging task.
Their chances had improved recently thanks to consistent performances from both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Sainz’s recent win in Mexico and Ferrari’s strong form since introducing upgrades in Monza have positioned them as serious contenders. Nevertheless, McLaren’s lead and Red Bull’s competitiveness make Ferrari’s path to victory demanding. Upcoming races in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi will be critical, and Ferrari needs top finishes to outscore their rivals and potentially claim their first Constructors’ title since 2008 .
Also Charles needs to overcome a 24 point deficit to Lando Norris to secure the Vice Championtitle in the Drivers Championship.
