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Verstappen earns epic Sao Paulo GP win from 17th spot

Staff WritersAAP
Max Verstappen was back on top at Interlagos after an amazing drive took him from 17th to victory. (AP PHOTO)
Camera IconMax Verstappen was back on top at Interlagos after an amazing drive took him from 17th to victory. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP

Red Bull's Max Verstappen stands on the brink of his fourth Formula One title after a landmark drive to victory from 17th on the grid in Brazil dealt a shattering blow to Lando Norris's hopes.

McLaren's Norris, who started the wet and chaotic Sao Paulo race on pole position on Sunday and 44 points behind Verstappen, finished sixth. He later escaped with a $8200 fine and reprimand for a procedural infringement at the initial aborted start.

The title gap meanwhile blew out to 62 points with three rounds remaining.

If results go his way, Verstappen could hit the jackpot in the next race in Las Vegas on November 23.

In a crash-strewn race halted after 33 laps and re-started, Verstappen took his eighth win of the season by a mighty 19.477 seconds and with a bonus point for fastest lap.

"My emotions were all over the place, from wanting to destroy the garage (after qualifying) to winning the race," said Verstappen. "It has been a roller coaster.

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"It is unbelievable to win here from so far back on the grid. I was expecting to lose points in the championship. Now, I just want clean races. But I am not thinking about clinching the title in Vegas."

With team boss Christian Horner acclaiming a masterclass of a drive from one of the sport's greats, the win ended a 10-race losing streak for the 27-year-old Dutch driver dating back to Spain in June.

Amid the mayhem at Interlagos, Alpine took an astonishing points bonanza with Esteban Ocon second and Pierre Gasly third -- rocketing the Renault-owned team from ninth to sixth in the standings.

"I don't think anyone would have got that on their bingo card, it's just fantastic," said Gasly.

George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc fifth.

Yuki Tsunoda was seventh for RB with McLaren's Oscar Piastri eighth, Liam Lawson ninth for RB and Mercedes's seven-times champion Lewis Hamilton 10th.

Australian Piastri had a difficult day, crossing the line seventh but being hit with a 10-second time penalty for a collision with Lawson, dropping him back a place.

Verstappen now has 393 points to Norris's 331, with Leclerc on 307. Piastri is fourth on 262.

"The rain came, we stayed out, which was very sketchy, and I had to just keep the car on track," said Verstappen. "It was undriveable in the conditions. I felt like I was driving a boat, or a jet-ski.

"There was a lot at stake because I had to be aware of the championship so for me this is the best one (victory). And it is a massive boost for the team because it has been a tough period."

McLaren lead the constructors' standings with 593 points to Ferrari's 557.

Norris was philosophical.

"It was a tough day, I did my best. I've had a lot of good races, it was about time that something didn't go right," said Norris, who won the Saturday sprint after Piastri gifted him the victory on team orders.

On a long day for the teams which began with a 7.30am qualifying start amid more rain after it had been held over from Saturday, Norris had taken pole and all looked rosy for McLaren.

Verstappen, though, looked and sounded furious after being eliminated in P2, caught out by red flags, with his 12th place on the grid becoming 17th after an engine penalty was applied.

The virtual safety car was deployed on lap 28, after Haas's Nico Hulkenberg had spun off, with Russell and Norris pitting in increasing rain and what turned out to be an unfortunate call as Verstappen, Ocon and Gasly stayed out.

The full safety car was then deployed before Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto crashed his Williams shortly after pitting, scattering debris across the track and halting the race.

After a 25-minute delay, Ocon led a rolling re-start to the race and Verstappen then took the lead on lap 43, three laps after Sainz crashed at turn eight and triggered another safety car period.

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