Max Verstappen wins Brazilian Grand Prix after starting in 17th place

Max Verstappen was victorious in a chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday. The reigning Formula One world champion started the race in Sao Paolo in 17th but ended up picking up his eighth victory of the year and gaining a significant advantage in the race for the championship against Lando Norris. The British McLaren driver finished in sixth position. Esteban Ocon from France finished second in the Alpine ahead of teammate and compatriot Pierre Gasly.

Verstappen’s first victory in a Grand Prix since the win in Spain in June has ensured he increased his lead on Norris in the season leaderboard. The Red Bull driver has 393 points, which is 62 more than Norris, who earned eight points with his sixth-place finish and is now on 331 points for the season.

Norris started in pole position after a qualifying session that contained a lot of crashes. The British driver knew that Verstappen was started from the back of the race. He started in 17th after finishing 12th in qualifying and a five-place grid penalty. However, Alex Albon did not start the race, and Carlos Sainz started from the pits. The start, which was delayed because Lance Stroll had gone off the track in the formation lap, resulted in George Russell taking the lead in his Mercedes car.

Verstappen made a good start on the intermediate tires on what was a wet Autódromo José Carlos Pace circuit in Sao Paolo. He quickly climbed to 11th place before going past Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Oscar Piastri, and Pierre Gasly on the wet track, leaving him in sixth position behind Charles Leclerc.

A safety car situation and then even a red flag due to a crash by Franco Colapinto shook the field up considerably. Verstappen was lucky in his choice not to change tires yet and had advanced to second place behind Ocon in the Alpine. Norris had changed tires and was in fourth place. Verstappen was able to change tires before the restart without losing time.

Russell passed Norris again at the restart. Verstappen stayed behind Ocon before another safety car came out because of a crash of Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari. Verstappen took the lead in the restart.

Norris fell back to seventh place after braking poorly. Verstappen only increased his lead in the remaining laps, giving a day that started poorly the perfect ending after a failed qualifying session.