The Interlagos Circuit has just witnessed a historic race. Max Verstappen whit a new engine and a 5 place grid penalty was out of Q3. Qualifying P12, and after the penalty started P17. From there the Flying Dutchman flew to the front to take the victory of the rain torn Brazil Grand Prix.
Aborted start to the Brazil Grand Prix
The race start was aborted as Lance Stroll spun off track and went into the wall, tried to return to the track and beached his car in the sand. The Marshalls removed his car, and the Stewards called for an aborted start.
Many drivers started another formation lap while Verstappen stayed still on his grid position. On the radio he said that you’re only supposed to move if there is a green light. Lando Norris, George Russell, and other drivers who started another lap were noted for not following race instructions.
Return of ‘Flying Dutchman’
From 17th to 1st, Max Verstappen who has not been on the top podium in the last 10 races, has found his pace again. The last time Max showed such great skill and dominance over the car and the track was back in 2021 Russian Grand Prix, where the champ had started last on the grid (20th) and had finished 2nd right behind Lewis Hamilton.
Max Verstappen had made up 18 places that day at the Russian Grand Prix 2021. Yesterday at the Brazilian Grand Prix, this man found extraordinary pace in the wet. He made up 15 places before the red flag, pushing for 1st place behind Alpine driver
Esteban Ocon.
After the race restarted, Max quickly took the lead of the race from Ocon and stayed there till the end of the race.
Absolute masterclass by Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen always has been a master in the wet. The latest evidence is the British Grand Prix, where rain changed the outcome of the race.
Lewis Hamilton who was devoid of a race win since Saudi Arabia 2021, was back on top after a very wet race. Max Verstappen who was suffering from a huge loss of downforce, managed to drive the problem ridden RB 20 to second place.
At the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, where most other drivers were struggling for grip, Max Verstappen was setting fastest laps after fastest laps. This man was out to prove that he was still the champ, that he was not to be trifled with. Max Verstappen took 17 fastest laps in the race, improving his time lap by lap, till the final lap of the race.
As soon as Verstappen found himself in charge of the lead of the race, he started using the clean air to his advantage.
The gap increased between him and the Alpine’s in 2nd and 3rd. Soon the gap was more than 6 seconds, then 10 seconds, then 15, and by the last lap the gap had increased to a whopping 19.4 seconds, as Verstappen crossed the finish line.
Max Verstappen’s drive at the Brazilian Grand Prix is one to remember in the history of Formula 1. Red Bull has been bedevilled with a lack of pace since the Miami Grand Prix and as the year progressed, the car’s performance continued on a steep decline. Max Verstappen began loosing confidence in attacking corners, braking and even defending. But finally, since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix turned things around for Red Bull.
Improved performance of the RB 20
Red Bull improved the floor of the car
and made changes to the aerodynamics of the car as well. Max Verstappen started gaining confidence back in the car again. In the Singapore, United States and the Mexico Grand Prix. Max Verstappen had good pace and placed high in the races.
The RB 20 performed exceptionally well at the Interlagos Circuit.
The car stuck to the ground in the wet like paper to glue. The car had regained its dominant pace again. Max Verstappen was like a fish in the water as he drove absolutely perfectly in the rain.
Four time World Champion?
Max Verstappen has earned himself a total of 31 points furthering his lead in the Championship. He stands 62 points ahead of Lando Norris after yesterday’s race.
After being dropped to 4th in the Sprint Race due to apenalty after the race, Max Verstappen was vying for a win. He needed the race win to solidify his lead in the Championship, which he did.
Now only 3 races are left, with one Sprint Weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix. A maximum total of 86 can be scored in these races. Max Verstappen has to only extend his lead another 14 points to make it impossible for Lando Norris to win the championship.
This weekend at the Brazil Grand Prix, has been a shocker for all Verstappen fans, including your truly. From the 3rd place finish in the Sprint Race to the penalty and post race result of 4th. Then missing out on Q3, and having a 5 place grid penalty, for us fans, it was a race about damage limitation for the champion.
We had never expected to see him on the top step of the podium with the Dutch National Anthem playing. This race could not have gone a better way for Max Verstappen and his fans.
All Max has left to do is score at least 14 points at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, to win the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship. And we all know that the Flying Dutchman has it in him to win.