Max Verstappen wins the Brazilian Grand Prix after a chaotic race, both Alpines on the podium

After one hundred and thirty-three days of shortage, “Mad Max” returns to the top of the podium! Under the deluge, the Dutchman won the Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the wheel of his Red Bull on Sunday, November 3 at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, his eighth success this season. The one who aspires to a fourth consecutive title – achieved between 2017 and 2020 by the British Lewis Hamilton – had gone almost four months without winning a single race in Spain.

“ My emotions were on a roller coaster!declared the Red Bull driver, very happy, although he started 17 distances away.^my position on the starting grid. We stayed out of trouble and made the right decisions. » With this victory, the Dutchman takes a decisive advantage in the general classification over his pursuer Lando Norris, only 6^my Today. With three races remaining in the championship, the three-time current world champion has 393 points in the drivers’ standings, 62 more than his runner-up.

The podium is completed by the two Alpine cars, which achieved an unexpected result thanks to a providential red flag that appeared in the middle of the race, after the spectacular accident of the Argentine Franco Colapinto (Williams). With second place for Esteban Ocon and third for Pierre Gasly, the French team achieved its first podium of the season. The last time two Frenchmen were in the box was in 1997, at the Spanish Grand Prix.

“ Two cars on the podium, no one would have imagined this result! He welcomed Ocon, falling into his teammate’s arms in the goal area. This morning I had a terrible qualifying session. I’m very proud of the team, very proud to be back after such a difficult season. » With this double, Alpine jumps to sixth place in the manufacturers’ standings.

A chaotic race

After three Grands Prix in three weeks, fatigue is beginning to be felt in the paddocks. The Brazilian rain will not have helped the matters of drivers and mechanics, giving this 21^my The race weekend (of 24) seems like a berezina. We even doubted that the Brazilian Grand Prix would complete its 70 laps, at the pace of track starts. “ It was limited, the game was to stay on the track, we were going very slowly. », confided Pierre Gasly to the Canal+ microphone, exhausted.

The exciting day began very early, with a qualifying session – postponed due to rain – held in the early hours of this Sunday and marked by five accidents and as many red flags. On the wet track, many cars finished their race at the bottom. The Grand Prix held a few hours later was just as chaotic. The start was initially delayed after Lance Stroll left the track during the formation lap. Spinning in the gravel, the Aston Martin driver had to retire even before the start of the race.

Winner of Saturday’s sprint race, Lando Norris did not benefit much from his pole position. The 24-year-old Briton, neck and neck with Max Verstappen in the drivers’ standings, however had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the championship. The Red Bull driver only appeared in 17^my position on the grid, due to a five-place penalty for changing engines for the sixth time this season, exceeding the maximum allowed of four.

But halfway through the race, the spectacular accident of Argentine Franco Colapinto redistributed the cards. The Argentine lost control of his car and crashed violently into a wall. The driver was uninjured, but the race was neutralized while the track was secured.

Esteban Ocon, who was leading the race at the time of the interruption, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Pierre Gasly, who until now had not stopped to change tires, thus benefited from a “free” pit stop at the end of the race. was interrupted. Thanks to the heavy rain, the three drivers were no longer trapped during this endless session. Verstappen regained the reins of the Grand Prix from Normand and took flight.

With this great boost of destiny, Verstappen takes 18 points off Norris. The Dutchman could revalidate his world crown in the next meeting, in Las Vegas, on November 23.