Verstappen wins from 17th in rain-soaked Brazilian GP

Formation Lap Drama

The drama began before the race properly started, with Lance Stroll's Aston Martin finding the gravel trap at Turn 4 during the formation lap.

This triggered a bizarre sequence of events where pole-sitter Lando Norris led several cars off the line in response to an "Aborted Start" message, while Verstappen and others remained stationary, creating confusion throughout the grid.

A 10-minute delay ensued before the race could properly begin, with officials working to restore order to the starting procedure.

The incident would later lead to a post-race investigation for Norris regarding his aborted start actions.

Verstappen's Recovery Drive

When racing finally got underway, Mercedes' George Russell seized the lead from Norris into Turn 1, but all eyes were on Verstappen's charge through the field.

The Dutchman showcased exceptional skill in the treacherous conditions, executing a series of bold overtakes at Turn 1 to climb to 11th by the end of the opening lap.

His progress was temporarily halted behind Charles Leclerc's Ferrari, but changing weather conditions would soon play into his hands.

Russell and Norris initially pulled clear of the chasing pack, which included Yuki Tsunoda, Ocon, and Leclerc, but the increasing rain would soon dramatically alter the race's complexion.

Alpine's Performance

The race's trajectory changed dramatically around lap 27 when Nico Hulkenberg spun off solo at Turn 1 during Russell's 27th tour, bringing out the Virtual Safety Car.

While most frontrunners pitted, Esteban Ocon and Verstappen stayed out, along with Pierre Gasly in the second Alpine.

This strategic decision, combined with increasing rainfall, vaulted them to the front of the field.

The rain intensified significantly, leading to a full safety car deployment when Williams' Franco Colapinto crashed, resulting in a nearly 25-minute delay.

During this red flag period, Ocon, Verstappen, and Gasly were able to switch to fresh intermediates without losing their positions.

Hulkenberg received a black flag for being pushed backwards in the Turn 1 runoff and rejoining improperly.

At the restart, Ocon initially pulled away from Verstappen, building a 3.3-second lead, but another safety car for Carlos Sainz's crash on lap 39 bunched the field up again.

This time, Verstappen seized his opportunity, brilliantly overtaking Ocon at Turn 1 despite the Alpine's strong initial getaway.

Behind the leaders, the challenging conditions caught out several drivers. Norris slid off at Turn 1 under pressure from Leclerc, who himself later went off at Turn 4.

Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez were also among those finding trouble in the treacherous conditions, with the pair clashing during the latter stages of the race.

The victory marks Verstappen's first since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, with Alpine's Ocon and Gasly completing the podium in a historic result for the French team.

Russell had to settle for fourth, while early contender Norris struggled in the changing conditions, eventually finishing sixth behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

The result significantly boosts Alpine's position in the constructors' championship, moving them up to sixth place.

Race Recap

Verstappen delivers an incredible masterclass at the 2024 Brazilian GP, going from P17 to P1 without a single mistake.

Red Bull's strategy was flawless. McLaren's chances slipped away due to strategic errors before the red flag and multiple mistakes by Norris.

Ocon and Gasly impressed, finishing P2 and P3.

Ferrari struggled in the wet; Sainz crashed, and Leclerc's mistakes cost him, though he salvaged an acceptable finish.

Verstappen's performance shows why being a world champion takes true skill.