MAX VERSTAPPEN produced a jaw-dropping comeback from 17th to win a bonkers Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The ruthless Dutchman overcame a five-place grid penalty, shambolic qualifying session, a penalty in the sprint, as well as handbags with Damon Hill this weekend.
The three-time world champion made a huge statement in the title-race, crossing the line 19 seconds ahead of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly on a bumper day for Alpine.
Verstappen s last time on the top of the podium was at the Spanish Grand Prix a whopping ten-races and six-months ago.
The Dutchman bagged the fastest lap and can clinch the title in Las Vegas in three weeks’ time if he beats Lando Norris there after the Brit finished sixth today following a woeful performance.
Brazil had been riddled with drama all weekend and today s race continued where a chaotic, crash-strewn qualifying session in the morning had left off.
Norris had secured pole while a seething Verstappen finished in 12th after a session which saw FIVE red flags for heavy crashes.
Verstappen was furious about the delay in throwing the red flag for Lance Stroll’s crash which believed had allowed other drivers to knock him out of the top 10.
It only seemed to ignite the fire in the Dutchman s belly as he lined up on the grid all the way back in 17th after Red Bull put a new engine in his RB20.
Drama erupted before the race had even started as Stroll lost control of his car on the formation lap and was stuck in the gravel, aborting the start and prompting a Safety car.
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Remarkable scenes followed, with some drivers including Norris peeling away to go for another formation lap while Verstappen and others stayed put.
Norris was then put under investigation for a starting procedure infringement as replays showed there was no green light on the gantry when Norris led most of the field away.
To rub salt in the wounds, Verstappen had pointed out the error.
Finally the fans were treated to some racing and it was George Russell who was ahead on lap 1 after nipping past Norris off the line.
It was a stunning first lap from Verstappen who meant business and sky-rocketed seven places up.
By lap 10 the Dutchman had passed Norris McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri for seventh-place.
At the front of the pack, Norris was hunting down Russell with just over a second separating the pair as the rain lashed down.
On lap 28 there was the first Virtual Safety Car as Nico Hulkenberg was out of the race at Turn One.
It sparked pit stop chaos as Russell and Norris pitted with the virtual safety car ending.
Russell remained ahead but Ocon and Verstappen stayed out, as did Gasly.
Ocon nipped into first-place and Verstappen was second, while Norris overtook Russell for fourth on lap 30.
It continued peeing it down and there was a Safety car amid the heavy rain with Ocon leading, Verstappen is second, Gasly in third then Norris and Russell.
But a red flag was shown after Franco Colapinto suffered a massive crash on the run up the hill towards the finish line.
Colapinto got out of his car and appeared to be fit, but Williams budget was certainly suffering, given it was their third big crash of the day.
Russell was left seething and fumed on Mercedes team radio after being told the race had been red flagged just a few laps after his pit stop:
“I f****** said it!
“We should have stayed out!”
Full Sao Paulo Grand Prix race result
- Verstappen
- Ocon
- Gasly
- Russell
- Leclerc
- Norris
- Tsunoda
- Piastri
- Lawson
- Hamilton
To add to the drama, Hulkenerg was then disqualified for receiving assistance after he spun off the track.
When the race resumed, Norris nerves got the better of him and he went deep at Turn Four, allowing Russell through.
Carlos Sainz was then out of the race on lap 40 after spinning into the wall, prompting another safety car.
Verstappen laid down a huge marker in the title-race after the restart as he bulldozed into the lead while Norris disastrously ran off the track and dropped into seventh.
Piastri came to the rescue and let Norris through on the run down to Turn Four so the Brit was up to sixth while his rival Verstappen had left him for dust.
The Dutchman now leads Norris in the drivers’ championship by 62 points with three races remaining.
Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase said after the race: “Wow, been a long time coming mate but boy was that worth the wait. You are the man.
Verstappen: “Yes! What an unbelievable race guys. You know what that is. Simply lovely. I tell you that.”
