F1 | Max Verstappen wins Brazil rain race in a fantastic way – can smell fourth world title

The expectation between the postponed qualifying (from Saturday to Sunday) and the early race (the start was an hour and a half earlier) was that Lando Norris would really make the championship exciting again, but things turned out differently. Very different. Not to mention completely different.

Verstappen drove from seventh starting position to a dominant victory. The Dutchman won by more than 15 seconds ahead of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who both rode to the podium in their Alpine and thus scored very important points. From the very first moment, Verstappen was the fastest man on the track in Interlagos. There was simply no measure for him.

Red flag means free pit stop for Verstappen

Verstappen was fortunate to receive a free pit stop due to a red flag, which was waved due to crashes and heavy rain. Leaders George Russell and Lando Norris made a pit stop a little earlier, but perhaps even without this luck, Verstappen could have won a Grand Prix for the first time since the end of June, when in Spain.

After the restart, Ocon was initially the leader, but a safety car later Verstappen was on top and overtook the Frenchman never to be seen again. In the meantime, Norris made a mess of it, which he had already done at the first start. Due to a slip by Lance Stroll, the start was postponed. Norris should have waited on the starting grid, but drove away for an extra warm-up lap. The investigation into Norris is still ongoing and a possible punishment is still open.

Verstappen dominates after restart, Norris makes a mistake

After the restart, Norris only went backwards instead of forwards. He had a moment at the last restart, went wide in the first corner and therefore lost some positions that he was unable to regain. However, there is a chance that George Russell will also receive a penalty, which means that the outcome of the Brazilian Grand Prix is ​​not yet completely certain. In any case, Norris’s title chances will take a big hit and Verstappen’s will get a big boost.

On the wet track in Brazil where Verstappen already made a big impression as a youngster – even including a very unlikely save to avoid crashing – the future four-time champion stood head and shoulders above the rest. Then he didn’t win. Now it is! This is the silver lining his fourth world title needed after that oh-so-tough second half of the season.

Will Verstappen become world champion in Las Vegas?

Verstappen is now more than 60 points ahead of rival Norris, with three Grands Prix and a sprint race to go. The precise margin is difficult to calculate due to expected penalties, as mentioned, but there is even a chance that Verstappen will secure the championship during the next race.

Celebrating Verstappen’s fourth world championship is something the organization of the race in Las Vegas is probably only too happy to do.

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