VERSTAPPEN WINS IN A RAIN SOAKED BRAZIL AS ALPINE TAKE A DOUBLE PODIUM

Round 21 saw Formula One come to Interlagos, Brazil, a country which has an unmatched love for the sport and the circus that is Formula One certainly put on show in a rain soaked Brazilian Grand Prix. Verstappen takes his first win since the Spanish Grand Prix to tighten his grip on a fourth World Championship as he comes from 17th to win the lowest position anyone has won from ever in Formula One history. On the other end you have Alpine, a team who have struggled massively this year and in their first double podium in 11 years since Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean both stood on the podium in South Korea, 2013.

It was second placed George Russell (Mercedes) who got the better second phase of the start over pole man Lando Norris (McLaren) who leads into turn on from Norris and Yuki Tsunoda (RB) in third with Esteban Ocon (Alpine) in fourth. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) completes the top five.

It only took him one lap and already Max Verstappen was up to tenth place after starting 17th. An overtake on a tentative Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) into turn one on the second lap see’s the Red Bull into the points.

The first pit stop came on lap twenty five when the Ferrari of Leclerc pitted for a fresh set of inters when we all know more heavy rain is predicted. Leclerc drops from fifth to 13th. Verstappen is now into fifth.

The first of of the VSC/SC/yellow flags came on lap twenty seven when the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg has spun out at turn one. The VSC is deployed to clear the Haas. But! The stewards have pushed the Haas over the drain it was stuck one and the Haas gets going again. Hulkenberg would later be black flagged and disqualified from the race. He had outside assistance and the Haas therefore has to be disqualified under the rules.

Two laps later out comes the green flag. Russell and Norris both pit. Ocon now leads the race from Verstappen.

Russell and Norris come back out in fourth and fifth. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) is third. The front three still yet to pit.

After losing P1 off the start Norris finally gets past Russell for fourth place on lap thirty which should have been a net race lead. But then... in the the mist covered Sao Paulo Grand Prix circuit the Safety Car is deployed.

As the sole remaining Williams of Franco Colapinto has crashed under the Safety Car. The Williams lost it on the start finish straight and had no defence when the barriers came calling.

The red flag is thrown out.

The race resumes on lap thirty four with a rolling start - Ocon leads from Verstappen into turn one, Gasly third and Norris fourth. BUT NORRIS GOES WIDE! he rejoins level with Russell and drops the position and is down to fifth.

Lap thirty six and the Haas of Ollie Bearman goes for a spin into the barriers. He keeps the car going and rejoins the race in 16th and last.

And the final piece of drama saw Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) crash and the Safety Car is out as is Sainz. He tried to get going again but the damage to his suspension means he is unable to carry on.

Lap forty three and the green flag is out. Ocon to lead the field away again… but Verstappen takes the lead of the race. Norris again goes off and drops to seventh!

After starting seventeenth Max Verstappen wins in Brazil as title rival Norris can only hang on the minor points meaning should Max win in Las Vegas and Norris doesn't get the points required Verstappen will be a 4 Time World Champion, joining the very exclusive list of 4x World Champions such as Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost.

The next race is the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: Under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. All images are owned by Formula One.