Formula one: Verstappen answers critics

Max Verstappen answered critics of his driving with a statement win in Brazil on Sunday that ranked among the best of his Formula One career. Red Bull’s triple world champion rode a rollercoaster of emotions at Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit, furious after qualifying 17th and then elated as everything slotted into place.

Verstappen passed six cars on lap one, was 10th after lap two and then worked his way through the rest of the field to take the lead and disappear into the distance.

In a wet and chaotic race punctuated by crashes, safety car periods and a long stoppage just before the half distance, he still won by more than 19 seconds to end a run of 10 races without a win.

“I don’t even know where to start, because my emotions have been from almost trying to destroy the garage to winning the race,” he said. “I was motivated to get a good race and just let the race pan out and see what happens. In a wet race, always some crazy things can happen.”

Verstappen went from expecting his then-44-point lead to be further whittled away by McLaren rival Lando Norris, starting on pole, to seeing it stretched beyond 60 points with a fourth title now his for the taking. That could be achieved at the next round in Las Vegas.