Max Verstappen wins chaotic Sao Paulo Grand Prix as Lando Norris suffers disaster
11/03/2024 12:58 PM
Max Verstappen claimed a stunning victory at a chaotic Sao Paulo Grand Prix to extend his championship lead over Lando Norris.
The Red Bull driver edged closer to a fourth-straight Formula 1 title as rival Norris endured a disaster, finishing sixth after starting from pole in Brazil.
Verstappen, who was left outraged after qualifying 17th, showed his class in treacherously wet conditions, scything up the order and into the points after just a handful of laps.
He was able to jump Norris after the McLaren star pitted for new tyres and stayed ahead as the red flag came out and the race was stopped after Franco Colapinto wrecked his Williams on the main straight.
At the restart, Esteban Ocon of the lowly Alpine team found himself leading the race and remarkably pulled away from Verstappen, with the most unlikeliest of wins on the cards with just over 20 laps to go.
But a safety car triggered by Carlos Sainz crashing his Ferrari allowed the Dutchman to close up to the Frenchman and as the race began again he took immediate advantage, sweeping past at the first corner.
It is Verstappen’s first win since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, while Norris could not replicate his pace from qualifying and has now fallen 62 points behind in the standings with just three races to go.
It means that Verstappen can wrap up the title at the next race in Las Vegas, while there was huge jubilation for Alpine after Ocon and Pierre Gasly finished on the podium.
‘My emotions today have been a rollercoaster with qualifying being really unlucky with the red flag,’ Verstappen said post-race.
‘Starting in P17 I knew it would be a very tough race. We stayed out of trouble, made the right calls, we stayed calm and we were flying.
‘All of these things together. I mean unbelievable. To win here from so far back on the grid…
‘It was very hard to pass around here with the new tarmac. I knew I had to go for it. It was always easy to front lock but I had confidence on the brakes. Turn One is always a great corner to pass.’
More to follow…
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