Formula 1: Verstappen storms from 17th to win in Brazil

For the first time since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, Max Verstappen is again a winner in 2024 after charging his way through the grid from seventeenth in one of the most remarkable drives of the season during one of the most chaotic and exciting races in recent memory. With changing weather conditions and massive drama on and off the circuit, Formula 1 fans were treated to not only Verstappen’s excellent drive to first, but the surprise return of Alpine to the podium in their first double-podium finish on the year to score 33 points and move from ninth, to sixth overall in the constructors championship – securing them a potential $50 million windfall at the end of the season.

With chaos starting before the lights even went out, the wet conditions would prove to be a worthy opponent to the drivers as we lost the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll on the formation lap. Spinning into the gravel, the Canadian driver was unable to free his car and was forced to retire, setting in motion an aborted start sequence for the remaining grid. Under some confusion, it was later released that Lando Norris, George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda, and Liam Lawson would all be under investigation post-race for failing to follow correct procedures with the aborted start.

HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action as Verstappen stages remarkable comeback in Sao Paulo while Alpine claim double podium

Soon though, the grand prix did start and George Russell – winner here in 2022 – took little time to dispatch Norris for the lead of the race as drivers dove into the Senna Esses for the first time in anger. Further down the order, Verstappen’s superior start took him from 17th to 10th withing four laps as he battled for points with Lewis Hamilton. The latter struggling with confidence in his Mercedes, Verstappen took full advantage in his Red Bull, diving past for position into the esses as he chased Norris.

As the rainfall intensified, drivers began complaining of worsening conditions on track as the race neared the halfway mark before Ferrari made the first move on lap 25, bringing in LeClerc for fresh intermediate tires despite the increasing cadence of rainfall. LeClerc rejoined the circuit mired in 13th position as Norris began lighting up the radio asking McLaren for advice on when to pit in order to overtake the Mercedes of Russell. Meanwhile, the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg ended up in trouble at the top of turn 1. Beached on the apron of the turn, Hulkenberg was unable to free his Haas machine, prompting a Virtual Safety Car to be called, neutralizing the fight between Russell and Norris as teams were quick to call in drivers for fresh tires. Hulkenberg, receiving help from the course marshals, would later be black-flagged and disqualified from the final race results due to outside help moving his car.

The action pit lane began to unfold as the drama with Hulkenberg set forth the second half of the field to dive into the pits, however, by the time Russell and Norris made their way in after the call was made, the VSC had ended before the pair could exit pit line, leaving them floundering behind the Alpine’s of Esteban Ocon  and Pierre Galsy and the Red Bull of Verstappen, all of whom had yet to pit. Then on lap 32, the calls for the safety car came in and the field began to pack up behind the British Green Aston Martin. Still under caution, red flags were suddenly displayed as the destroyed Williams of Franco Colapinto was shown on screen. Having exited the final turns, Colapinto lost control of his car, slamming into the wall and ending his day as drivers began to file into the pit lane.

Gaining a fresh stop and jumping Russell and Norris in the process, it was game on for Verstappen as he sat sandwiched between the two Alpines. All clad in fresh rubber, and the track now slightly drier after a lengthy stop in the pit lane, a rolling start was in effect as the track went green once more, the Alpine of Ocon streaking ahead of Verstappen as Norris ran wide in turn 4 allowing Russell to sneak through. Further down the order, Fernando Alonso lost out to Lewis Hamilton as the hometown hero worked his way up into the points.

Lap 40 saw the return of the safety car after the Ferrari Carlos Sainz was shown in the barriers, officially making the field a scant 15 cars after losing Albon in qualifying as the team were unable to repair his car, Stroll, Colapinto, and the disqualified Haas of Nico Hulkenberg. After a few laps under the safety car, the green flag as shown once again as Ocon and Verstappen leapt out from the field, the latter diving deep into turn 1 on the inside to steal the lead from Ocon. Once past, it was game over for any challenge for the lead with Verstappen opening up a dominant 19.477s over Ocon and Gasly as the duo were able to hang on to the final podium places.

George Russell and Charles LeClerc maximized their day in the closing laps to secure forth and fifth respectively, while Lando Norris and McLaren were the biggest losers on the day, ending sixth and eighth in what seemed to be a lights-out podium for the pair earlier in the weekend. Yuki Tsunoda finished seventh along with teammate Lawson in ninth while Lewis Hamilton would end the day tenth. Sergio Perez, Oliver Bearman, Valtteri Bottas, Fernando Alonso, and Zhou Guanyu would fill out the final finishing positions.

A brief break in the action greets teams and drivers before finishing the final triple header of the season as teams regroup for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 3 weeks time. Racing under the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip, the 2023 edition of the race saw chilly temperatures and a new track that brought excitement at every corner. Catch all the action live starting November 21st at 18:30 local time on your local services as we take a break in the action in the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship.

Free Practice Report – CLICK HERE

Sprint Qualifying Report – CLICK HERE

Sprint Shootout Report – CLICK HERE

Qualifying Report – CLICK HERE

FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2024 Schedule

Race Results: