An absolutely enthralling Sao Paulo Grand Prix and a vintage Max Verstappen drive may have just confirmed us our latest four-time F1 world champion.
Outside of the stunning drive by Max, we had Alpine’s massive pay day, McLaren seemingly going from the form team to the fumbling team and proof as to why letting a race go ahead in the wet is the smart thing to do.
As always there’s plenty to discuss, so let’s get into the talking points.
Verstappen brilliance all but secures entry into exclusive club
Remember back in 2016 when Max Verstappen announced himself to the world during the Brazilian Grand Prix with his stunning drive from the back of the grid to third in the wet? Well 2016, meet 2024, and an even more incredible drive from the Dutchman.
For a man who has dominated this sport for the last two years and the beginning of this season, many would’ve been forgiven to think he had lost it given his ten-race streak without a win and the dread and gloom that seem to follow him in the press.
However, with a wet afternoon in front of him in Brazil, Verstappen showed just why he is the best driver on the grid with one of the best drives in the modern era. And in doing so, he has all but secured himself a fourth world championship, something which only a week ago seemed like he was about to lose.
(Photo by Getty Images)
Amazingly, Verstappen can win the Championship in three weeks in Las Vegas. If he leaves the Strip 60 points ahead of Norris, he is the 2024 World Champion. He currently has a 62-point lead over Norris, meaning all he has to do is beat the Brit to win the title.
In doing so, he would join Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost, Juan Manuel Fangio, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher as the only drivers in history to win four World Championships. A truly exclusive club that only the greats enter.
With results like this, he is thoroughly deserving of doing so.
No cricket for once as proof wet racing is possible
Did we actually just see racing in the wet?! Hooray!
For once it was deemed possible for cars to showcase that wet racing is possible, and that the 20 best drivers in the world are also capable of driving in such conditions.
Sure, qualifying was cancelled on the Saturday. But did we all not feel a sense of expectation that on Sunday we would be faced with a similar fate? Particularly when the heavier rain came during the race? Thankfully common sense prevailed and we were treated to an entertaining race with mixed results and the type of race we all used to relish when the rain wouldn’t turn F1 into cricket.
While the damage bill for some teams is high leaving Brazil, the fans excitement levels were even higher. Let’s just hope it remains this way for future wet races.
McLaren still not ready for Championship glory
McLaren haven’t won a Championship of any sort since 2008 when Lewis Hamilton won his first ever Driver’s Championship. It’s a further ten years since the team last won the Constructors’.
While the majority of this season has fallen their way and they looked ready to jump at the chance to break their drought in either Championship, there are still cracks that are simmering beneath the surface that show they still are perhaps not ready to take that elusive title.
During the sprint race on Saturday, the team seemingly once again made their choices for the obvious extra complicated, with Oscar Piastri slowly making way for Lando Norris to take the win in a race that should’ve easily been handed to him.
(Photo by Getty Images)
Yes, there was strategy at play going on behind, but they got very lucky with a late virtual safety car that allowed them the result they desired.
During the race proper, holding out Norris later than necessary for a tyre change ultimately proved a risk too far, especially given the safety car and red flag situation that presented itself shortly after. Of course they aren’t to know what was to happen, but why risk something like that happening when they had the option to pit Norris earlier?
There are always fine margin calls in F1, but you have to say that despite the struggles Red Bull and Verstappen have had recently, none have seemingly come from questionable strategy calls.
That shows the difference of Championship-winning experience, something which the Woking team are slowly working their way back towards but aren’t quite there yet.
Alpine’s $50 million race
Remember back to Bahrain when Alpine were the laughing stock of the grid?
Now they leave Brazil with a double podium and almost $50 million extra in their bank account.
Okay, not quite yet. But should they retain sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, that is how much extra prize money they are set to achieve after leapfrogging three other teams to get into that spot.
It was a remarkable result for the French team, who probably would’ve been the last team anybody predicted would score a double podium in Brazil.
And it was a well-deserved result for a team that has seemingly faced as many management changes over the last few years as Verstappen has won races.
They may not be the most supported team on the grid, but this result definitely would’ve won them plenty of fans.
Senna tributes should continue with other drivers
Quick note on the plentiful Ayrton Senna tributes across the weekend in Brazil.
Being 30 years since the legendary driver died, there was always going to be a lot going on in his home country. Just like we saw earlier in the year during the round at Imola. Such is his status in the history of the sport, it is inevitable this would happen. But why can’t we have this for other drivers?
(Photo by Getty Images)
Yes, none of them reached the almost god-like status that Senna did, but there are still plenty who have an overwhelming number of fans out there that tributes in a similar fashion, such as giant murals, special liveries or iconic cars being driven around their home track could be also implemented at their home races.
Schumacher, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Jack Brabham are just a few icons who you could celebrate en masse just like they have with Senna. Yes, it makes it difficult for Schumacher and Prost given there isn’t presently a German or French Grand Prix, but at the Austrian, British and Australian Grands Prix there could be some special tributes done to these past legends to celebrate their legacies.
If the sport is interested in connecting the past with the present as much as they claim, let’s help celebrate more drivers than simply Ayrton Senna.
This article was originally written for The Roar. You can read the published version here
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