Lando Norris’ already slim world title hopes were crushed at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix by a performance for the ages from Max Verstappen.
The Red Bull driver won from 17th on the grid. It was a masterclass, a day when he was head and shoulders above his rivals. And what he had achieved was not lost on him.
It was, he said, “definitely the best” of his 62 wins. Few would argue. It was a drive to be ranked among the greatest wet-weather drives in history. “I really believe we’ve witnessed one of the great drives in F1 today,” his team principal Christian Horner said.
It was a fitting way finally to end a victory drought for Verstappen that dates back to the Spanish Grand Prix in June – 11 races ago.
Although Norris was closing in slowly in the intervening period, and did so again with victory in the sprint race in Sao Paulo on Saturday before the chaotic events of a soaking Sunday, Verstappen’s fourth world championship never really looked under that much threat. The lead he established with seven wins in the first 10 races of the season was too big for that.
But there can be no doubt now. Verstappen’s stunning win, along with Norris’ sixth place, extended the Dutchman’s lead to 62 points. There are only 86 still available in the remaining three races.
If Verstappen leaves Las Vegas in three weeks’ time with a 60-point advantage, he will be champion. Even if he cannot manage that – and he may well not, as Norris and Ferrari might be fancied to beat Red Bull there – the title will surely be won a week later in Qatar.
