Max Verstappen has stormed to a remarkable victory in a frenetic Sao Paulo Grand Prix, climbing through the field from an original starting position of P17 to score his first race win since June. The race was marked by changing weather conditions and significant drama, which also saw Alpine secure a double podium result.
Pre-Race Chaos
The chaos began before the event even started when Lance Stroll spun off during the formation lap, leading to confusion over the aborted start procedure. Pole-sitter Lando Norris led a number of cars away while others remained on the grid, resulting in investigations for Norris, George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda, and Liam Lawson for a start procedure infringement.
Race Highlights
When the Grand Prix finally commenced, Russell enjoyed a strong launch and initially led from Norris, while Verstappen worked his way through the pack in the early stages. As the rain began to fall, a red flag was thrown on Lap 32 after a crash for Franco Colapinto in the Williams, just after Russell and Norris lost out by pitting as the Virtual Safety Car period ended.
Upon the race resuming, Esteban Ocon led from Verstappen and Pierre Gasly. After another restart following a Safety Car appearance due to Carlos Sainz’s crash, Verstappen surged into the lead and looked untouchable, ultimately crossing the finish line with a margin of 19.477 seconds.
Alpine’s Stunning Performance
It proved to be a dream day for Alpine, with Ocon and Gasly finishing in P2 and P3, allowing the team to make an extraordinary jump from ninth to sixth in the constructors’ standings. Russell finished fourth for Mercedes, followed by Charles Leclerc in Ferrari and Norris in sixth, who lost ground to Verstappen in the championship standings. McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri finished seventh but received a 10-second penalty for a collision with Lawson, dropping him to eighth.
Notable Performances and Retirements
Yuki Tsunoda moved up to seventh, marking a double points finish for RB, as Lawson ended in ninth. Lewis Hamilton scored the final point after fending off a late charge from Sergio Perez, who finished in P11. Ollie Bearman secured 12th for Haas after an eventful race, while Valtteri Bottas finished 13th for Kick Sauber.
Both Sainz and Colapinto recorded retirements after their crashes, while Nico Hulkenberg received a black flag just prior to the race restart for receiving assistance from marshals after an earlier off-track incident. Stroll did not take the start after his spin on the formation lap, and Alex Albon was unable to participate due to a lack of time to repair his car after a qualifying crash.
Race Summary
After a weekend filled with drama, including the return of the Sprint and a rain-affected qualifying, the attention of the paddock turned to the 71-lap Sao Paulo Grand Prix. However, the repercussions of the chaotic qualifying session lingered, with multiple drivers facing issues before the race began.
The rain held off as the grid assembled, with all drivers starting on intermediate tyres. Stroll’s spin during the formation lap led to an aborted start, resulting in Norris leading several cars away for another formation lap. This created further confusion and investigations into start procedure infringements for multiple drivers.
Once the race began, Russell quickly took the lead, while behind him, Verstappen began his impressive recovery. By the end of the race, Verstappen’s dominant performance had secured a stunning victory and a much-needed boost in the championship standings.
Key Takeaways
- Max Verstappen climbs from P17 to win the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
- Alpine achieves a double podium with Ocon and Gasly.
- The race featured significant drama, including crashes, penalties, and changing weather conditions.
This race will be remembered as a thrilling chapter in the 2024 Formula 1 season, showcasing the unpredictability of motorsport and the extraordinary talent of its drivers.
