Max Verstappen has explained how a tumultuous start to Sunday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix made his decisive victory so “emotional”.
Verstappen started 17th but showed his class in the rain to end a 10-game winless streak and take a 62-point lead over Lando Norris with just three rounds remaining.
The Dutchman’s low grid position was the result of an unfortunate Q2 exit on Sunday morning after storms on Saturday forced the session to race day morning.
Verstappen, who was penalized five places earlier in the weekend for purchasing a new engine and was pushed further down the leaderboard, admitted he struggled to deal with the disappointment of being eliminated.
“It’s definitely an emotional victory. This morning I was very angry and my emotions were going from left to right,” Verstappen said. Sky Sports F1.
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Sunday’s race highlights from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen won after starting 17th!
“I surprised myself to win here today. We had a really good start, stayed out of trouble, had good overtakes and were very fast.
“We made the right decision by raising the red flag to not go out, but then suddenly it rained so much that we couldn’t drive with wet tires.
“I know from my phone calls with the team that it’s amazing how calm they are and helping me make the right decisions, not just for me on the pit wall. In a race like this, it’s huge to have that.”
He later added to the written press: “I don’t even know where to start because my emotions today were almost from trying to destroy the garage to trying to win the race.”
Verstappen reveals the secret behind his wet prowess.
Verstappen got off to a good start to Sunday’s race after taking sixth place in just over a lap, including moving on from Lewis Hamilton at Turn One. At Turn One he eventually took the lead from Esteban in a corner where he pulled off one car to great effect. Ocon after safety car restart.
A significant move was made when Red Bull decided to kick him out of the Virtual Safety Car. Verstappen was able to move ahead of three cars, including Norris, and fit new tires without losing time due to red flags.
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Max Verstappen overtook Esteban Ocon to take the lead in the Brazilian race after Carlos Sainz’s crash brought out a safety car.
“I had a good feeling that I could move forward. I felt comfortable. Since I was little, I’ve driven a lot on wet roads with my father and close friends,” said Verstappen.
“We have been practicing different scenarios each time. Of course we are comfortable in these conditions, but the car still has to work. Today we felt confident.
“I am very happy with this result. It was an incredible race for us.”
Verstappen cited Sao Paulo’s victory as his best.
Verstappen has now won 62 races, with only Michael Schumacher (91) and Lewis Hamilton (105) winning more.
Sunday’s performance was reminiscent of Verstappen’s podium finish at Interlagos in 2016, when he raced through a soggy pitch.
“This is definitely a lot more important than before. I had nothing to lose there. I wasn’t in the championship game and I came from behind after the strategic mistakes we had,” said Verstappen.
“There’s a lot more at stake now, so I’ve had to be more aware and in control of the championship. So for me, this is definitely the best (of the two).”
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George Russell overtook Lando Norris at the opening corner to take the lead, while Max Verstappen quickly overtook Lewis Hamilton to move into 10th place.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said he “never expected” the team to win and thought Verstappen was “the best in the world” in all conditions.
“It was a masterclass and in those conditions the driver’s skills were really on display and he was in a league of his own,” he said. Sky Sports F1.
“As a team we got all the calls right and the car had great speed. We had a great drive out of the 17th. “It felt like everything was against us this morning, but he turned it around.
“He got off to a good start, driving six cars on the first lap. It was an amazing performance, one of his best performances.”
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