Verstappen's Brazil victory silences critics and impresses rivals as he closes in on 4th F1 title

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SAO PAULO -- Max Verstappen's come-from-behind triumph successful nan pouring rainfall astatine nan Brazilian Grand Prix connected Sunday didn't conscionable put him a batch person to a 4th consecutive Formula One title.

After 10 races without a win, it besides reminded everyone of why nan Dutch driver is simply a three-time champion successful nan first place.

Verstappen delivered 1 of nan champion capacity of his profession to move up from 17th astatine nan commencement and clinch a triumph that accrued his lead complete McLaren's Lando Norris from 44 to 62 points pinch conscionable 3 expansive prix races and a sprint title remaining.

“Simply lovely,” Verstappen summed it up connected nan squad radio.

His chap drivers were much effusive.

“Amazing,” said seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.

“Incredible,” gushed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

“Fantastic,” added Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, a two-time F1 champion.

The only dissenting sound was Norris, who started connected rod but vanished sixth and later based on that nan title was decided by luck arsenic his squad made a pit extremity conscionable earlier a reddish emblem came out.

“He drove well, he sewage a spot lucky,” Norris said. “You return a gamble, and it has paid disconnected for them. It is not talent; it is conscionable luck.”

With only 86 points up for grabs until nan extremity of nan season, Verstappen only needs to decorativeness up of Norris successful Las Vegas to unafraid nan title successful 2 weeks.

The Red Bull driver had expected a reliable play astatine Interlagos. He received a five-place grid punishment aft changing his motor for nan sixth clip successful nan season; mislaid 1 constituent successful Saturday’s sprint title because of different penalty; and sewage unlucky during qualifying erstwhile nan convention was interrupted conscionable arsenic he was attempting to timepiece a accelerated lap, leaving him successful 12th place.

But past everything went correct for him successful nan race.

He surged past rivals astatine nan commencement and had passed a fistful of cars earlier nan first thigh was over. In a crash-ridden title wherever visibility was hindered by nan changeless spray of h2o from nan cars successful front, Verstappen kept overtaking car aft car and ended up finishing almost 20 seconds up of second-placed Esteban Ocon of Alpine.

“It was decidedly an affectional win,” Verstappen said. “I was really motivated and put everything into this title and I amazed myself coming arsenic I wasn’t expecting to decorativeness successful P1.”

The mode of nan triumph besides sent a connection to immoderate of Verstappen's critics, who had described his driving style arsenic being excessively aggressive.

“(Verstappen) silenced a fewer critics today,” said erstwhile F1 champion Damon Hill, who himself was 1 of those critics.

In his post-race property conference, nan Red Bull driver besides took a changeable astatine immoderate of nan British journalists who person questioned his abilities successful caller weeks.

“I person a speedy mobility here. I admit each of you being here, but I don’t spot immoderate British press,” Verstappen said, drafting laughter. “Do they person to tally to nan airport, aliases they don’t cognize wherever nan property convention is?”

Fans astatine Interlagos were besides impressed by nan Dutch driver's performance.

Many of them, for illustration Carlos Santos de Araújo, 65, were hesitant to support Verstappen because of his ties to Nelson Piquet, nan begetter of his woman Kelly and nan main rival of different Brazilian three-time F1 champion, nan precocious section leader Ayrton Senna.

Sunday'a title put Verstappen nether a different light, de Araújo said.

“No 1 tin beryllium indifferent to what Max did today. I americium judge he will deliberation this nan champion title of his life, 1 of nan champion present astatine Interlagos,” he said, wearing a Senna garment and a Mercedes cap. “Hardcore F1 fans for illustration maine do for illustration him arsenic a driver, but coming astir apt changed his position for america all. Anyone who thought he was conscionable acold and sometimes arrogant will spot nan combatant that he was to triumph this. That adds to him being a champion.”

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