Max Verstappen said his drive to victory in yesterday’s Brazilian Grand Prix was better than his widely praised performance in the same race eight years ago.
His performance in the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix, during his first season as a Red Bull driver, was hailed by many at the time as proof he was a champion of the future.In streaming wet conditions similar to yesterday’s race, Verstappen got among title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, overtaking the latter at one stage. An extra pit stop after he switched to intermediate tyres dropped him to 16th, from where he recovered to finish third.
Yesterday Verstappen raced from 17th on the grid, with two empty slots ahead of him, to take victory. But given the circumstances of his championship fight with Lando Norris, Verstappen said he regarded this as his better performance.
“Those two are definitely in my top ten list,” he said after yesterday’s race. “But this one is definitely much more crucial than back in the day.
“There I had nothing to lose. I was not in a championship fight and I was coming from the back after the strategic mistake we had.
“Now there was a lot more at stake. So I had to be more controlled, more aware of the championship. So for me, definitely this one is the best one.”
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Verstappen scored his first grand prix victory since June, and realistically ended the possibility he might be beaten to the championship this year. He admitted his long win-less spell had been difficult.
“I wanted to, of course, win a bit sooner. But it’s been tough for us. We always kept pushing. We didn’t really understand why the others were so fast in the race, especially.
“I’ve been trying a lot of things to improve the car. And starting P17 this morning, it didn’t look like we were going to win the race again. So it’s an incredible result for us.
“A massive boost for the team, because honestly, it’s been tough. But it is also a big strength of the team to stay calm and just try to work on performance and improve our situation. And I’m confident for the last three races that we can fight again, and especially in the race that we will be more competitive.”
Reports: Verstappen’s virtuoso wet weather drives in Brazil
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2024 Brazilian Grand Prix
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bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
4th November 2024, 11:08
He was quite brilliant yesterday.
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
4th November 2024, 12:46
It was OK. If the red flag happened 5 laps earlier. He probably would have ended up in 6th. Very lucky raise especially when you look at the rest of the podium.
Osnola
4th November 2024, 13:07
Thats called strategy. On of the options available is pitting during vsc, expecting a SC or a red flag.
Norris wanted to pit.
When the red flag came verstappen was second.
JOA20
4th November 2024, 13:19
It was a calculated risk. Verstappen was able to keep the car on track on old inters, whereas Russell and Norris who were in front couldn’t manage them properly to wait for a red flag. Sure, had the race been suspended earlier it would’ve been bad for Max and the Alpines, but the bet paid off spectacularly.
Grapmg
4th November 2024, 14:29
If the red flag would have been 5 laps earlier or 5 laps later or not at all we will never know what would have happened. My guess he surely finished before Norris. With the pace he showed yesterday I think he would have finished on the podium in any situation.
Kribana (@krichelle)
4th November 2024, 13:41
Nah. His 2016 was better. He had a chance to beat one driver in the most dominant pair of drivers in the history of F1 and the W07 had the pace to win every race that season. Note that he nearly crashed his car but he stopped it while everyone else thought he would crash the car. Rosberg and Hamilton were insane in 2016.
Patrick (@paeschli)
4th November 2024, 13:47
I think he is right in his assessment. Starting down in P17 and not only staying out of trouble but making several positions up in that first lap takes some skill. After that he was methodological, with a more controlled drive than in 2016.
tielemst
4th November 2024, 15:12
As a spectator I like his 2016 race better. The passes around the outside on a completely soaked part of the track were breathtaking. From his standpoint though, he’ll probably more satisfied by the cool and controlled way he went about it and finish first. In 2016 it was more of a do or die race, and with his spin coming onto the straight it could very well have gone all wrong.
Femke
4th November 2024, 15:39
Meh, he got 20 seconds AND track position for free. Does t ring as a strong drive altho creds for his overtake on ocon
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
4th November 2024, 16:20
I think his explanation makes sense about having nothing to lose in 2016 and having to be more careful here; if not for the mistake to put intermediates and then having to put full wets again (something that doesn’t happen today!) he’d just have held 2nd place till the end.
PlosslF1 (@f1-ploss)
4th November 2024, 17:12
Proper raking my memory and no googling but wasnt Max on new wets when all the 360’s were occurring?
Ray West (@raynaud2211)
4th November 2024, 18:29
With a lot more on stake then in 2016 this drive was even more impressive. How he could overtake were other couldn’t, just incredible to watch. This is one of those races I will rewatch later because it was so good.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
4th November 2024, 20:44
I always love how Verstappen milks it especially when it’s not true. A true champion would downplay it.
I initially didn’t like Haaland but I watched an interview of his when he scored 5 goals in a match and when he was interviewed he wasn’t patting himself on the back and talking about his greatness matching Messi. He started talking about all the chances he had missed and played back each moment as vividly as it happened analyzing what he’d done wrong. Then he was asked if there are areas he can improve and his answer without hesitation was “everything! everything needs work, I have to improve in every area”.
That’s when I became a huge fan of his. Sure he may not have the foot skills and vision of the other greats but there’s a reason why he’ll be at the top in terms of goals when it’s all said and done and cross not just 500 goals but hit 800+.
Osnola
4th November 2024, 20:54
Lol, we know your stance regarding max.
Lewis always downplayed it…not :)
SteveP
5th November 2024, 18:32
Er, actually, he did.
Thanks to the team, everyone at the factory etc.
You know, the sort of phrases you usually dismiss as false modesty and such like.
Benhur
4th November 2024, 22:43
I disagree with Max here. Of course it was a great victory after too many winless weekends with pressure mounting up, and all but clinched another WDC. But the champion’s luck, or call it a well-calculated gamble, helped here. I was expecting Max to slice all the way to the top but Charles managed to stop him for many laps.
On the other hand it was a bad pitstop call from the team in 2016 (not exactly bad luck but not Max’s fault either) which stopped him to rise to the top leaving behind two extremely dominant Merc’s along the way. Those overtakes by the outside in an extremely slippery track were unbelievable. And while watching F1 since the days of Sir Jackie Stewart I have never seen a recovery like Max’s when the car slipped away from him in Interlagos 2016 and he seemed to be just a passenger.
I believe Max will get an 8 in this site and can accept it but Interlagos 2016 should have won a 9.
Best drives of the third Millenium:
3rd: Max, Interlagos 2024
2nd: Fernando, Hungaroring 2006
1st: Max, Interlagos 2016
Eat your poisonous heart out, Johnny
Mayrton
5th November 2024, 8:46
How is Johnny? I heard they had to provide oxygen to him and they had to carry him away following the race.
He most certainly didn’t meet his target of getting Verstappen -29pts vs Lando this weekend and will get a ‘needs improvement’ rating from the FIA. Despite all of his efforts in Sprint and Quali. Well, he did the best he could, a bit like his driving: always underwhelming.
BenHur
5th November 2024, 12:07
After the apoplectic fit du jour, I hear JH has entered a convent for life and vowed never to come near a circuit LOLz
SteveP
5th November 2024, 18:36
Probably wandering around saying “see, he can drive well and doesn’t need to dive-bomb, just drive properly”
BenHur
5th November 2024, 13:20
Finally a 9, did not expect it but well deserved, Brazil 2016 should be a 10