After an utterly chaotic weekend, Max Verstappen climbed through the field to take victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix, joined on the podium by the delighted Alpine pair of Esteban Ocon in second and Pierre Gasly in third for what could prove a tens-of-million-pound points haul.
Verstappen qualified a lowly 12th for the grand prix once the session eventually got underway following rain delays, and dropped to 17th after taking a five-place penalty for a new power unit. But in the torrent of weather, the three-time world champion produced the perfect race, benefitting from some red flags in the process. Carving his way through the pack, Verstappen went on to finish almost 20 seconds clear of Ocon in second, all but cementing his fourth world championship in the process.
Esteban Ocon may have had brief thoughts of winning this grand prix, but Alpine’s double podium saw it jump up three places to sit sixth in the constructors’ standings – an incredible turnaround with serious financial gains to be had if it can stay there. Gasly successfully held off George Russell, who finished fourth after a decision to pit which ultimately proved the wrong one.
Charles Leclerc came home in fifth ahead of Lando Norris, who, after winning the Sprint race and starting on pole, was in prime position to caplitalise on Verstappen’s misfortune. Instead, a catalogue of errors gave Norris a race to forget, his title rival can now seal the deal next time out in Las Vegas.
Behind him, Yuki Tsunoda finished seventh ahead of Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piastri in eighth. The final points positions went to Liam Lawson in ninth to secure a double points finish for RB, and Lewis Hamilton, who’s hard-fought tenth place finish salvaged something from a generally miserable weekend.
Position |
Driver |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Max Verstappen |
Red Bull |
393 |
2 |
Lando Norris |
McLaren |
331 |
3 |
Charles Leclerc |
Ferrari |
307 |
4 |
Oscar Piastri |
McLaren |
262 |
5 |
Carlos Sainz Jr. |
Ferrari |
244 |
6 |
George Russell |
Mercedes-AMG |
192 |
7 |
Lewis Hamilton |
Mercedes-AMG |
190 |
8 |
Sergio Pérez |
Red Bull |
151 |
9 |
Fernando Alonso |
Aston Martin |
62 |
10 |
Nico Hülkenberg |
Haas |
31 |
11 |
Yuki Tsunoda |
RB |
28 |
12 |
Pierre Gasly |
RB |
26 |
13 |
Lance Stroll |
Aston Martin |
24 |
14 |
Esteban Ocon |
Alpine |
23 |
15 |
Kevin Magnussen |
Haas |
14 |
16 |
Alex Albon |
Williams |
12 |
17 |
Daniel Ricciardo |
RB |
12 |
18 |
Oliver Bearman |
Haas |
7 |
19 |
Franco Colapinto |
Williams |
5 |
20 |
Liam Lawson |
RB |
4 |
21 |
Zhou Guanyu |
Sauber |
0 |
22 |
Logan Sargeant |
Williams |
0 |
23 |
Valtteri Bottas |
Sauber |
0 |
Position |
Team |
Engine |
Points |
1 |
McLaren |
Mercedes |
593 |
2 |
Ferrari |
Ferrari |
557 |
3 |
Red Bull |
Honda RBPT |
544 |
4 |
Mercedes-AMG |
Mercedes |
382 |
5 |
Aston Martin |
Mercedes |
86 |
6 |
Alpine |
Renault |
49 |
7 |
Haas |
Ferrari |
46 |
8 |
RB |
Honda RBPT |
44 |
9 |
Williams |
Mercedes |
17 |
10 |
Sauber |
Ferrari |
0 |
Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.
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