Max Verstappen has one hand on a potential fourth Formula 1 drivers’ championship, coming from 17th to complete one of the great victories.
On the day he passed Michael Schumacher for the most consecutive days leading the world championship, Verstappen overcame a horrid qualifying and grid penalty to take his eighth grand prix win of the year. It is just the fifth time a driver has won an F1 grand prix from 17th or lower.
Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly came second and third, a result which lifts them ninth to sixth in the constructors’ championship and could be worth tens of millions of dollars at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, pole sitter and championship rival Lando Norris had his title challenge dealt a critical blow, finishing sixth with an investigation hanging over his head.
When the season ends, one moment on lap 43 of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix may be looked back on as the moment Verstappen sealed the title.
Restarting the race following a safety car, Verstappen made the race-winning move on Alpine’s Esteban Ocon into turn one.
At almost the identical time Norris went wide and fell back to seventh, ending his chances of beating his title rival.
Norris started the race 44 points adrift of Verstappen following his win in the sprint race the previous day.
But the Dutchman’s win extended his lead in the championship to 62 points with three grands prix and one sprint race left in the season.
“My emotions today have been a rollercoaster, with qualifying being really unlucky with that red flag,” he said.
“Starting P17, I knew it was going to be a very tough race.
“But we stayed out of trouble, we made the right calls, we stayed calm, and we were flying.”
The day did not start well for the world champion, who qualified just 12th fastest and then started 17th after taking a five-place grid penalty for changing his engine.
Max Verstappen was furious at the time it took for a red flag to be waved during qualifying in Brazil. (Getty Images: Formula 1/Lars Baron)
Verstappen qualified 12th fastest after being denied the ability to finish a flying lap to get into Q3 after a red flag was called following a crash by Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.
Yellow flags were being waved around the Stroll incident as race control seemingly tried to allow as many drivers as possible to finish their flying laps in Q2.
There were 40 seconds between the crash and the red flag being waved.
However, the red flag came out as Verstappen was still roughly 30 seconds away from the finish line.
The Dutchman was visibly ropeable in his cockpit at the red flag, while his championship rival made it through Q2.
“The car hits the wall, it needs to be straight red. I don’t understand why it needs to take 30, 40 seconds for a red flag to come out,” Verstappen said after qualifying.
“It’s so stupid anyway to talk about, it’s ridiculous.”
Drivers, including Norris, under investigation for race start
A day of high drama continued before the race started when Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll went off track in the formation lap, getting beached in a gravel trap.
This led to an aborted start and Norris, on pole, went off and completed another formation lap.
But there was not a green light shown meaning Norris, and those who followed suit, should have stayed where they were and waited for pit crews to return to the grid.
Eventually, all cars went around the Interlagos circuit but many followed the correct procedure and stayed on the grid for close to a minute.
The top four on the grid, Norris, George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, were placed under investigation
The investigation will take place after the race as the potential infringement is potentially unprecedented.
When the race began, Russell beat Norris to turn one and led the race.
While Verstappen was making moves through the field, the pair out front maintained a steady lead over roughly 10 seconds to the chasing pack.
A virtual safety car came out on lap 28 for a crash from Nico Hulkenberg.
Russell and Norris came into the pits as the green flag conditions resumed, allowing Ocon to take the lead with Verstappen second.
Argentine Franco Colapinto standing next to his wrecked Williams F1 car. (F1)
Just five laps later all cars came into the pits when the race was red-flagged following the crash of Argentine Franco Colapinto.
During this time, Ocon, Verstappen and Gasly were allowed to change their tyres and keep their positions at the front of the field.
Nico Hulkenberg creates unwanted history with 17-year first
Among the drama and chaos of this year’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg created unwanted history with a 17-year first.
The German driver became the first to be shown the black disqualification flag during a race since 2007.
Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg was disqualified from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. (Reuters: Amanda Perobelli)
Hulkenberg went off track and was beached over a drain on lap 28 in Brazil, drawing a virtual safety car.
Four track marshals pushed Hulkenberg off the drain, allowing the German to have all four wheels on the ground and continue on.
That violation, continuing to drive after receiving outside interference, resulted in Hulkenberg being disqualified from the grand prix.
It was the first time a driver had been shown the black flag during a race since the Canadian Grand Prix in 2007.
On that day, Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella were disqualified for leaving the pit lane while a red light was being shown.
