Max Verstappen may have enjoyed what could be considered the greatest victory of his Formula 1 career, but there’s one key goal he hopes to achieve beyond securing his fourth championship title this season.
At the Brazilian Grand Prix, Verstappen became just the sixth driver in F1 history—and the 1,122nd race—to win after starting from 17th or lower on the grid, showcasing an exceptional performance. Despite challenging conditions, the Red Bull driver set 17 fastest laps and finished nearly 20 seconds ahead of runner-up Esteban Ocon of Alpine.
This win also ended a 10-race winless streak that had raised questions about both Verstappen and Red Bull, especially following incidents with McLaren’s Lando Norris in the U.S. and Mexico races. Verstappen’s victory at Interlagos was a statement to his critics, but now, as he nears his fourth title with a 62-point lead over Norris and only 86 points remaining in the season, he has one clear wish for the remainder of the year.
When asked if his win in São Paulo was a turning point, Verstappen said, “Looking at it, it was incredibly important because I was expecting to lose points. From now on, I just want clean races until the end of the season. I’m not focused on clinching the championship in Vegas or anywhere else; I just want clean races.”
The win not only silenced some of his critics but also gave a significant morale boost to his team, who had been under pressure during a difficult stretch. The RB20’s performance was notably improved, especially evident during the Saturday sprint race, where Verstappen comfortably matched the pace of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Reflecting on the importance of the victory and the final three races in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, Verstappen shared: “I wanted to win a bit sooner, but it’s been tough for us. We kept pushing and trying different things to improve the car. Starting from P17, it didn’t look like we’d win again, so it’s an incredible result. A huge boost for the team, because it’s been challenging.”
He also praised the team’s ability to stay calm under pressure, saying, “It’s a big strength of the team to stay composed and keep working on performance. I’m confident we can be competitive in the last three races and that we’ll be in a strong position during the races themselves.”
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