- Max Verstappen won a rain-soaked 2024 Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix
- Verstappen looks set to win fourth-straight Drivers' Championship
- McLaren leads the Constructors' Championship
Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen made one of the most impressive drives of his career to take home victory at a chaotic 2024 Formula Brazilian Grand Prix, held on Sunday at a rain-soaked Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo.
No one would have expected the result since Verstappen started the race at 17th on the grid, after a disastrous qualifying session, which resulted in five crashes, earned him 12th spot and then a penalty for a power unit change dropped him a further five spots.
Second place went to Alpine's Esteban Ocon, almost 20 seconds behind, while third place went to fellow Alpine driver Pierre Gasly, some two seconds behind his teammate.
The race started with McLaren's Lando Norris on the pole and Mercedes-Benz AMG's George Russell joining him at the front of the grid. There was drama even before the race started as Aston Martin's Lance Stroll spun off during the formation lap, which was followed by confusion when several drivers at the front started the race while others waited on the grid.
2024 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix - Photo via Mercedes-Benz
Following another formation lap, the race started, this time with Russell pulling into the lead ahead of Norris, and Verstappen slowly working his way up from the back. The reigning world champion was already up to 11th place by the end of the first lap and on the second he managed to pass Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton to take 10th. By the 11th lap, Verstappen had already moved up to sixth.
At the front, on lap 20, Russell still led, just under a second ahead of Norris. Shortly later, Haas' Nico Hulkenberg became stuck off track which triggered a virtual safety car period, and he was then disqualified for returning to the track with help from marshals. Verstappen's shot of luck followed on lap 32 after a red flag was thrown following a big crash for Williams' Franco Colapinto into the barriers. It came just after Russell and Norris had both entered the pits, just as the virtual safety car period ended.
This resulted in Ocon leading from Verstappen and Gasly after the race resumed. Ocon's lead didn't last long, though. Another safety car period and ensuing restart would soon come after Ferrari's Carlos Sainz crashed into the barriers on lap 40. This enabled Verstappen to jump ahead of Ocon once the safety car left the track three laps later.
2024 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix - Photo via Ferrari
Verstappen then pulled ahead and comfortably led to the finish. It was his first win since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, and has likely guaranteed him a fourth championship title. Former race leader Russell ended up fourth, while Norris managed sixth place after dropping back some spots after running wide shortly after the final restart.
Following the weekend's action, Verstappen leads the 2024 Drivers' Championship with 393 points. Norris is second with 331 points and Leclerc is third with 307 points. In the Constructors' Championship, McLaren leads with 593 points. Ferrari is second with 557 points while Red Bull is third with 544 points.
The next race on the calendar is the Las Vegas Grand Prix on in two weeks. It serves as round 22 on the 2024 calendar.
2024 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix - Photo via Ferrari
Below are the full results from the 2024 Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix:
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
2) Esteban Ocon, Alpine +19.477 seconds
3) Pierre Gasly, Alpine +22.532 seconds
4) George Russell, Mercedes-Benz AMG +23.265 seconds
5) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +30.177 seconds
6) Lando Norris, McLaren +31.372 seconds
7) Yuki Tsunoda, RB +42.056 seconds
8) Oscar Piastri, McLaren +44.943 seconds
9) Liam Lawson, RB +50.452 seconds
10) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-Benz AMG +50.753 seconds
11) Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing +51.531 seconds
12) Oliver Bearman , Haas +57.085 seconds
13) Valtteri Bottas, Sauber +63.588 seconds
14) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +78.049 seconds
15) Zhou Guanyu, Sauber +79.649 seconds
NC) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari – DNF
NC) Franco Colapinto, Williams – DNF
NC) Alexander Albon, Williams – DNS
NC) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin – DNS
DQ) Nico Hulkenberg, Haas - Disqualified
