Jakarta: Max Verstappen admitted that he was quite surprised by his victory at the rainy Formula 1 Brazilian GP, Sunday 3 November 2024.
The Red Bull driver is one step closer to securing his fourth world title after his rival, Lando Norris, finished in sixth position.
Verstappen has increased the points gap between himself and Norris to 62 points and has the potential to secure the drivers’ championship in two weeks’ time at the Las Vegas GP.
“This is clearly an emotional victory. This morning I was very upset, and my emotions were overwhelming today. Honestly, I was surprised to win here today,” Verstappen said as quoted ESPNMonday 4 November 2024.
“We had a very good start, we didn’t have any problems, we overtook well and we were very fast. We had made the right decision with the red flag to stay out and after that it rained and couldn’t even ride on wet tyres. “
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“The calls with the team were very calm and excellent in helping me also from the pit wall in making the right decisions. In a race like this, that is very important.”
In Sunday morning’s qualifying session, the Dutch racer was hit by a red flag which knocked him out of Q2, and had to start in 17th place with a grid penalty. Meanwhile, Norris from McLaren started from pole position.
Verstappen managed to climb eight places in the first few laps of the race and managed to climb to the top before the rain got heavier on Lap 28.
When other teams compete to use wet tires. Red Bull kept him in the middle of the pack, as he and the two Alpine drivers remained on the outside to inherit the top three.
Not long after, Franco Colapinto had an accident which caused the red flag to be raised, and gave Verstappen and the Alpine team the opportunity to make a pitstop.
When the race restarted, Verstappen made a stunning attack on Esteban Ocon to take the lead and thereby secure his third win at Interlagos, with Ocon and Pierre Gasly claiming a double podium for Alpine.
“I never expected to win today. I had a good feeling that I could be P4. I felt comfortable, but of course from a young age I have been driving together in the wet with my dad and my best friends and we have been practicing lots of different scenarios every time,” Verstappen said.
“I think that naturally makes you comfortable in these conditions, but at the end of the day, the car still needs to work – that gave me confidence today and of course I’m very happy with the result.”
“It was also a great race for us. I am confident that we can do a good job, but it was better than we expected today.”
The win was Verstappen’s eighth of the year, and his first since the Spanish GP in June. F1 has three races remaining, with the Las Vegas Grand Prix the next race.
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