Max Verstappen Storms from P17 to Victory in a Rain-Soaked São Paulo Grand Prix

3 November 2024

Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen delivered an unforgettable performance in treacherous conditions to win the São Paulo Grand Prix, despite starting 17th on the grid.

In a race marked by rain, multiple red flags, and dramatic twists, the Dutchman's skilful drive saw him finish a commanding 20 seconds ahead of Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, with Ocon's teammate Pierre Gasly completing the podium in third.

The three-time world champion shared his emotions over the team radio as he crossed the finish line, describing the race as "simply lovely." Reflecting on the day’s challenges, Verstappen said, "My emotions today have been a rollercoaster with qualifying and being unlucky with the red flag."

Verstappen’s weekend was filled with setbacks. Unable to set a competitive time in qualifying due to a red flag, he started 12th and was further disadvantaged by a five-place grid penalty for using an additional engine component. However, during the race, the Dutchman wasted no time making up for lost ground, storming through the field with a sensational opening lap that saw him gain six positions.

By lap 10, the Red Bull driver had moved up to 7th, expertly navigating the tricky conditions on intermediate tyres. His strategy to stay out while others pitted paid off when a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was triggered by Nico Hulkenberg’s off-track excursion. Just as the VSC ended, leaders McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ George Russell opted to pit, giving Verstappen a further boost up the order.

The intensifying rain brought out the safety car on lap 30, with Ocon, Verstappen, and Gasly forming the top three.

Shortly after, Franco Colapinto crashed, prompting a red flag that neutralised the race. The stoppage allowed Verstappen a free tyre change, perfectly positioning him for the remainder of the race.

As the race resumed under a rolling start, Ocon managed to hold off Verstappen. However, on lap 43, following another safety car caused by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz crashing, the Dutchman wasted no time on the restart, overtaking Ocon at Turn 1 to seize the lead and quickly pull away from the field. "We stayed out of trouble, stayed calm, and we were flying," Verstappen commented after the race. "It was unbelievable to win here from so far back on the grid."

Ocon’s strong performance secured second place for Alpine after leading the race from lap 29 until Verstappen took over on lap 43. Reflecting on his podium finish, the Frenchman said, "I am very happy to be on the podium. The car was extremely difficult in the dry, but I felt at ease when it started to rain. Today brought a special race for us."

Gasly, who maintained a consistent pace throughout, successfully held off Russell to claim third, marking the first time in eleven years that the team, now known as Alpine, has had both drivers finish on the podium. "It’s incredible for the whole team; we’ve had such a tough season," Gasly shared. "In these conditions, anything was possible. I am absolutely buzzing and proud of the team."

The São Paulo GP proved to be a challenging, incident-filled race that impacted teams across the grid. With numerous disruptions, it offered plenty of action and caused a major shift in the championship battle between McLaren’s Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

In the closing stages, Norris complicated his championship hopes by running wide at Turn 4 after a late safety car, narrowly avoiding a collision with Russell, who retained fourth place. Norris subsequently dropped to seventh but was eventually allowed by his team to reclaim sixth from his teammate, where he ultimately finished.

Ferrari also faced setbacks, with Carlos Sainz crashing out, leaving only one car to compete for points.

The final laps saw an intense battle for the last points position between Mercedes’ Sir Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. Perez’s attempt to overtake Lawson fell short, allowing Hamilton to secure tenth place.

Verstappen’s commanding victory extended his championship lead to 393 points, putting him 62 points ahead of Norris, who holds second place with 331 points.

Formula 1 now moves on to Las Vegas from 21–23 November.