With a scene in his own right, Max Verstappen came from 17th place, caught everyone even in a flood on the Interlagos circuit, in São Paulo, and won the Brazilian Grand Prix with a bang. Formula 1 this Sunday (3), the 21st day of 24 in the 2024 season and which lasted exactly 2 hours and 27 minutes. Alpine surprised and closed the podium with Esteban Ocon and Pierry Gasly in second and third, respectively – both were very excited after crossing the finish line.
The 27-year-old Dutchman, already three-time world champion and leader of the Drivers’ world cuptherefore he continues firmly towards the fourth place, as he saw his situation improve even more in the ranking, as his direct rival, the English McLaren’s Lando Norris, who came from pole, did not finish sixth.
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It was his second consecutive win in Brazil and, as a bonus, he quickly completed ten races and four months without a win. Now, in the title race, Verstappen, who gained 26 points (25 for the win and 1 for the fastest lap), has a total of 393 against Norris’ 331 (just eight).
The difference was 62, which means Verstappen can win his fourth championship in the next stage, in Las Vegas. To do this, you need to score at least 2 points more than the English in the US racemaking the advantage at least 60.
Monegasque Charles Leclerc, from Ferrari and who finished fifth, is third with 307, but now with no chance of winning the title (he could be equal to the Dutchman in points, but would still lose in number of wins), the same situation as the Australians. Oscar Piastri, from McLaren, who has 262. Only the four who started the GP in Brazil are in contention.
No In the World Drivers’ Championship, McLaren reached 593 points against 557 for Ferrari and 544 for Red Bull. The big jump, of course, was from Alpine, who went with both cars on the podium from penultimate to sixth place, with 49 points - Hass is seventh with 46, while Sauber is still without points.
Lewis Hamilton, with his Mercedes, only came tenth, while his team-mate, the Englishman George Russell, was fourth. The highlight of the seven-time world champion’s weekend, not to be forgotten in competitive terms, was the moving tribute to Ayrton Senna, which he did earlier on Sunday driving the McLaren MP4/5B with which he won the Brazilian second of three titles in the game. category in 1990.
The final three races of 2024 are scheduled, in order, for November 23 in Las Vegas (United States of America), December 1 in Lisbon (Qatar) and December 8 in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates).
Dutchman Max Verstappen with his Red Bull Racing RB20 on the wet Interlagos circuit at the 2024 Brazil GP Peter Fox/Getty Images
First fiasco, stop… Interlagos had everything
Based on the weather forecast, the organization moved the start from 2pm (Brazilian time) to 12:30pm (from Brasília) to reduce the risk of the race happening at the worst time of the rain. And at the scheduled time, the Brazilian Grand Prix 2024 officially began, but, amazingly, Lance Stroll complicated plans right on the presentation lap. The 26-year-
The Thai Alexander Albon, who would have finished seventh, did not even participate because Williams was not able to repair his car in time, which was almost completely destroyed after a huge accident in Q3. The Spanish Carlos Sainz, from Ferrari, set the 13th best time in practice, but had to leave the pits due to a penalty (changes to the car after an accident).
As a result, the start was postponed until 12:47 pm. In the new exit, with significant rain in Interlagos, Russel Norris attacked, took the lead and opened up. Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez threw his Red Bull after leaving 12th place, but managed to come back and continue. Back then, Hamilton, 15th, closed the first valid lap in tenth, while Verstappen, who would have started 17th, but left at the end of the grid after being penalized, was already in 11th.
After that, the Dutchman from Red Bull and the championship leader has already overtaken the Englishman from Mercedes and the seven-time world champion. On lap 6, Verstappen was already in eighth place after leaving the Spaniard Fernando Alonso, from Aston Martin, behind. In 10th and 11th, respectively, Australian Oscar Piastri, from McLaren, and New Zealander Liam Lawson, from RB, died and took sixth place.
On lap 15, German Nico Hulkenberg, who started 18th, was already 11th in his Haas. The last ones, as expected, were the Sauber drivers, with terrible cars: the 35-year-old Finn Valtteri Bottas and the 25-year-old Chinese driver, Zhou Guanyu.
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Exciting! Hamilton drives Ayrton Senna’s McLaren at Interlagos to a standing ovation from the fans
Before the Formula 1 Brazilian GP, Lewis Hamilton paid this tribute to Senna
The best part of Hamilton: the tribute to Senna
On lap 20 of 69 (71 was expected, but because two presentations were needed, the deduction was made), Hamilton had already been overtaken by Sainz and others and was only in 15th place. On the radio, he complained a lot about the car. Indeed, a weekend for the multi-time champion to forget in terms of competitiveness, with the emotional tribute to Ayrton Senna on Sunday morning, after qualifying, driving the Brazilian’s McLaren MP4/5B a two-time champion of the category, in 1990, the most important moment.
The pit stops began after lap 25, Norris was first, Russell followed, and with both backs on track, on lap 29, the Englishman went up and took fourth from his companion. Ocon, from Alpine, was in front, Verstappen and Gasly, also from Alpine, behind him. In the 27th, Hulkenberg spun and even managed to come back, but with the help of the inspectors, which is not allowed, so he was disqualified and said goodbye.
On lap 30, around 1:35 pm (Brazilian time), a safety car on the track due to the torrential rain that was falling at that time in the region where the circuit is located in São Paulo, at one end of the South zone .
On lap 32, the end of the race for Spaniard Franco Colapinto: the 21-year-old Williams driver crashed at Curva do Café On the same lap, red flag. The organizers interrupted the race for safety reasons (rain and removing the Argentinian car), and all the drivers went to the pits, even getting out of their cars.
The forecast for a new race restart was announced at 2:02 pm. And completed to the letter. Everyone filed out of the pits and at the green light, the attacks began, Norris ended up escaping on the wet track, and Russell took the opportunity to regain fourth place, followed by Ocon, Verstappen
Young Englishman Oliver Bearman, 19 years old, went on the grass and hit a base guard a little later, but continued from last place. Hamilton was ninth. On lap 40, Carlos Sainz sent his Ferrari into a tire barrier and retired, calling for a yellow flag.
Goodbye, Verstappen!
After going back again, Verstappen attacked Ocon on lap 42, caught him and was in the lead. And he opened. In 47, the Frenchman had a 3.5s advantage over Alpine. It was a show other than the Dutchman who came from behind the grid. Norris, pole and runner-up in the World Drivers’ Championship, on the other hand, was sixth.
On lap 55, a great fight between Lawson, Pérez and Hamilton for ninth place. All the Mexicans went out on New Zealand, staying side by side, the cars came into contact, but no overtaking happened. The seven-time champion, who was 11th, took advantage, pulled over and engaged the Red Bull driver, taking tenth.
Until lap 69, Verstappen’s show continued. The race was winding down, one after the other, which earned him the extra point provided for in the regulations. With three races remaining in the championship, the Dutchman remains firmly on his way to fourth place in Formula 1.
See the Brazilian GP 2024 classification
1 – Max Verstappen (HOL/Red Bull)
2 – Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine)
3 – Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine)
4 – George Russell (ENG/Mercedes)
5 - Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)
6 – Lando Norris (ENG/McLaren)
7 – Yuki Tsunoda (JAP/RB)
8 - Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren)
9 – Liam Lawson (NZE/RB)
10 - Lewis Hamilton (ENG/Mercedes)
11 – Sergio Pérez (Mex/Red Bull)
12 – Oliver Bearman (ENG/Haas)
13 – Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber)
14 – Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin)
15 - Guanyu Zhou (CHN/Sauber)
Abandoned
– Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari)
– Franco Colapinto (ARG/Williams)
– Nico Hulkenberg (ALE/Haas)
– Stroll Lance (CAN/Aston Martin)
They didn’t let go
– Alexander Albon (TAI/Williams)
Grid. By lap 60, Verstappen maintained a comfortable lead, demonstrating exceptional skill and control under challenging conditions. His ability to navigate the wet track and make decisive overtaking maneuvers solidified his position as the driver to beat.
As the laps dwindled, tensions rose among the drivers also competing for points and positions. While Verstappen was showcasing a commanding performance, behind him, the battle for the remaining podium spots heated up. Norris and Russell engaged in fierce wheel-to-wheel racing, with Norris eventually managing to secure second place, while Russell settled into third.
Verstappen crossed the finish line first, not only claiming victory but also setting him up to potentially clinch his fourth championship at the next race in Las Vegas. With the excitement of the Brazilian Grand Prix now behind them, all eyes shifted to the upcoming challenges, as teams prepared for what would be a critical race in determining the championship outcome.
The Brazilian GP served not only as a thrilling chapter in the 2024 season but also as a reflective moment for fans and drivers alike, especially highlighted by the emotional tribute Hamilton paid to Ayrton Senna. The weekend’s events reaffirmed the rich history and competitive spirit of Formula 1, leaving fans eager for the action to continue in Las Vegas.