Verstappen performs Brazilian miracle as Norris title hopes crushed

Max Verstappen performed a miracle in Brazil to win the São Paulo Grand Prix from 17th on the grid after mastering the wet conditions. 

The reigning world champion made seven places on the opening lap alone, before crucially not pitting prior to a red flag, caused by Franco Colapinto crashing. 

Remarkably, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly joined Verstappen on the podium in a huge boost for Alpine. 

Lando Norris could only finish sixth after a costly error when the race restarted on lap 43 following a second safety car. 

He is also under investigation, as well as others, for a potential aborted start procedure infringement at the start of the race. 

Regardless, Norris finishing sixth has severely hurt his title chances, with Verstappen moving 62 points clear in the F1 drivers' title.

Verstappen makes rapid progress after aborted start chaos

Only 19 drivers started the Brazilian GP, with Alex Albon having been ruled out following extensive damage to his car after his scary crash in qualifying – Carlos Sainz started from the pit lane. 

The circuit was, unsurprisingly, wet at the start of the race, resulting in all 19 drivers starting on the intermediate tyres.

In terms of the title fight, Norris started on pole position, whilst Verstappen started in P17. It was a unusual starting grid which saw Yuki Tsunoda in third, Esteban Ocon in fourth and Liam Lawson in fifth. 

Several drivers sniffed a big opportunity; however, Lance Stroll was not one of them as he crashed on the formation lap. The Canadian span at Turn 4, causing an aborted start to the race.

The aborted start caused confusion for Norris, who led the field around the Interlagos circuit again when he was not supposed to. Norris, Russell, Tsunoda and Lawson will be investigated after the race for a potential infringement during the aborted start procedure. 

Due to the delayed start, the race got underway just as heavy rain started to fall. It was Russell who made the best start and lead into the first corner, ahead of Norris and Tsunoda. 

As for Verstappen, the reigning world champion made seven places on the opening lap, whilst his team-mate dropped to last after spinning in the second sector. 

Russell did manage to build a two-second advantage over Norris in the opening couple of laps; however, the McLaren driver quickly caught his fellow Briton. 

Verstappen made a further position on the fifth lap, promoting him to ninth. A lap later, the Dutchman overtook Fernando Alonso for eighth, continuing his fine progression.

Eighth became seventh on lap 10 for the fastest driver on the circuit at the time, as Verstappen dived down the inside of Oscar Piastri. Lawson let Verstappen past for sixth the following lap.

Red flag sees Ocon take lead

Whilst Verstappen was making incredible progress through the field, Norris found himself being kept at bay by Russell, who was consistently one-second ahead.

Leclerc from fifth was the first driver to pit for fresh intermediates on lap 25/69, promoting Verstappen another position. 

A deluge of rain suddenly fell on lap 28, with Nico Hulkenberg having spun-off which triggered a virtual safety car. Several drivers chose this moment to pit for fresh intermediate or wet tyres.

That included Russell and Norris from first and second, although the VSC ended as they entered the pit lane. 

Ocon, Verstappen and Gasly did not pit and moved into the top three positions, with Russell and Norris having rejoined in fourth and fifth. The conditions were horrific, resulting in a full safety car on lap 31. 

Seconds before the race director summoned the safety car, Norris overtook Russell for fourth. Behind the safety car, the rain did start to ease; however, a huge crash for Franco Colapinto resulted in a red flag on lap 33. 

It meant that Ocon, Verstappen and Gasly were able to change tyres during the stoppage and restart the race in first, second and third, respectively. Norris restarted in fourth. 

During the stoppage, Hulkenberg was shown the black flag and disqualified from the race under extraordinary circumstances, for receiving help from marshals when he span on lap 28.

The race eventually got back underway with a rolling start, which Ocon performed excellently. Grip was a minimum, with Norris having gone wide at Turn 4 and overtaken by Russell for fourth.

Ocon quickly built a three-second gap; however, a second safety car was required on lap 40 after Sainz crashed at Turn 7.

Verstappen completes magical recovery

The second safety car period of the race was short and ended at the conclusion of lap 42. This time, it was Verstappen who reacted quickest and led into the first corner. 

It was perfect for Verstappen but horrific for Norris, who went off the circuit at the first corner and dropped down to seventh. Verstappen quickly built an advantage of several seconds, to put him in an excellent position. 

Lap 46 and McLaren ordered Piastri and Norris to swap positions, promoting the latter to sixth. Unfortunately, for Norris, the Briton could not get past Leclerc for fifth. 

Little happened in the closing laps, with Verstappen crossing the line for perhaps the greatest victory of his F1 career, over 19 seconds ahead of the Alpine duo of Ocon and Gasly. 

The three-time world champion also claimed the fastest lap bonus point.