Verstappen shatters Norris’ title hopes by winning from 17th in Interlagos rain · RaceFans

Max Verstappen came from 17th on the grid to win a wet Brazilian Grand Prix ahead of the Alpine drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.

The Red Bull driver took his first win since June to strengthen his lead in the championship over Lando Norris, who finished sixth.

Ocon finished second as team mate Gasly held off George Russell to make it a double podium for Alpine.

After the start of the race was brought forward by an hour and a half, the track was still damp but it was not raining as drivers completed the formation lap and lined up on the grid. Having suffered damage in qualifying that was too severe to be fixed for the start of the race, Alexander Albon was unable to take the start, leaving his seventh place on the grid empty.

As the cars heading out on their formation lap, Lance Stroll spun under braking for Subida do Lago, sliding into the wall and damaging his front wing. He tried to rejoin the track, but got beached in the gravel trap.

The original start was aborted, but pole winner Norris left the grid before receiving an ‘Extra Formation Lap’ signal. Around half of the field left while several others remained. The start was aborted a second time, with Norris placed under investigation for breaching the start procedure.

After a delay, the race finally got underway with Russell jumping ahead of Norris into the lead of the race. Yuki Tsunoda held onto third, with Esteban Ocon in fourth ahead of Charles Leclerc who gained fifth from Liam Lawson.

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Russell led the early laps of the race as he and Norris gradually pulled away from Tsunoda behind. Verstappen surgically sliced his way through the field, climbing up to sixth place behind Leclerc. Verstappen attempted to pass the Ferrari, but Leclerc held firm until he became the first to pit at the end of lap 24, fitting a second set of intermediates.

The rain picked up in intensity until Nico Hulkenberg lost control of his Haas into the first corner, triggering a Virtual Safety Car. Both Russell and Norris pitted for another set of intermediates, while Ocon and Verstappen – who had both passed Tsunoda – stayed out.

The rain increased and the Safety Car was deployed with visibility rapidly worsening. But behind the Safety Car, Franco Colapinto lost control of his Williams up the hill and crashed heavily, resulting in the race being red-flagged. The field lined up in the pits with Ocon leading, Verstappen second and Pierre Gasly third ahead of Norris, who had passed Russell just before the Safety Car.

After a delay, Ocon led the field away under Safety Car for the restart. The Alpine driver held the lead as the race resumed, not allowing Verstappen to challenge him. Behind, Norris slid off the track at Subida do Lago, losing fourth place to Russell as a result.

The Safety Car was deployed again when Carlos Sainz Jnr spun into the barriers at Laranja. This time, at the restart, Verstappen pressured Ocon and managed to slip through into the lead at the first corner. Behind, Norris ran wide at the first corner, losing multiple positions as he fell to seventh. However, a mistake from Piastri at Juncao handed the place back to his team mate.

Out in front for the first time, Verstappen pulled away from Ocon. Behind, Gasly came under pressure from fourth placed Russell.

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Verstappen crossed the line at the end of the 69th lap to claim his first victory for 11 rounds, with well over 15 seconds to Ocon who secured Alpine’s first podium of the season in second. Gasly managed to hold off Russell’s advances late to secure a double podium for Alpine.

Russell had to settle for fourth ahead of Norris and Yuki Tsunoda, who gained seventh after a ten second penalty for Piastri. Liam Lawson finished eighth, with Hamilton taking the final point in tenth.

Verstappen’s win means his lead over Norris now stands at 62 points with three rounds remaining.