Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner expressed excitement after Max Verstappen’s impressive charge from P17 to victory at Interlagos, shifting the championship momentum in his favor. Despite qualifying 12th due to a late-session red flag, Verstappen was pushed back to 17th by an engine-change penalty, setting up a challenging race.
In a wet and incident-filled Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Verstappen quickly fought through the field, advancing into the points. A red flag allowed him a free tire change, setting the stage for his final surge. He overtook leader Esteban Ocon and extended his lead, ultimately finishing 19.477 seconds ahead and claiming the fastest lap.
“It was a masterclass from Max,” Horner remarked. “In tough conditions, he was both patient and aggressive. To move from 17th to first was beyond what we’d expected.”
This win is Verstappen’s first since Spain, after Red Bull struggled with their RB20, while McLaren and Ferrari gained ground. However, Verstappen showcased the car’s pace in Brazil, setting multiple fastest laps and extending his lead over Norris to 62 points.
“We had the car today,” Horner noted. “It’s a credit to the team’s hard work in Milton Keynes. Everyone has put in the effort to get back to winning form, and Max maximized that today.”
Although Norris still has a slim mathematical chance, Verstappen’s lead makes it unlikely he’ll be caught if he maintains his current form. On the constructors’ side, Red Bull is third, with McLaren leading and Ferrari second, just 36 points behind.
Sergio Perez had a tougher race, narrowly missing out on points after an early spin put him at the back. “It’s frustrating,” Horner admitted. “The spin set him back, and although he pushed hard, finishing out of the points with a fast car is disappointing. But he’ll reset and come back stronger in Las Vegas.”