Brazil GP Report: Verstappen Dominant, McLaren and Verstappen Dazzle, While Others Struggle

The Brazilian Grand Prix was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Max Verstappen claiming a dominant victory and several other teams experiencing mixed fortunes. Let’s delve into the winners and losers from this action-packed race weekend in Sao Paulo.

Winner: Max Verstappen

In a performance that left no doubt, Max Verstappen secured a resounding victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Starting from 17th on the grid due to a penalty, he showcased exceptional pace and skill, making up positions with relentless aggression.

This victory not only reaffirms Verstappen’s dominance this season but also extends his championship lead, leaving him on the cusp of securing a fourth world title.

"An exceptional drive from Verstappen," assessed The Race. "So fast was Verstappen that rival Norris said he would have been lapped had the Red Bull driver started from pole position."

Loser: McLaren

Despite a promising start on Saturday with a stunning one-two finish in the sprint race, McLaren couldn’t convert their momentum into a strong podium finish on Sunday. Lando Norris eventually settled for sixth, with Oscar Piastri dropping to eighth after a penalty.

While they still lead the constructors’ championship, their missed opportunity in Brazil allows Ferrari to close the gap.

"Part of that was misfortune, but McLaren struggled for pace, and Norris was clearly taken aback by Verstappen’s performance on Sunday, " noted Samarth Kanal. " The silver lining is that McLaren leaves Brazil leading the constructors’ championship by 36 points, having outscored Ferrari, but it was outscored by Red Bull by five points this weekend."

Loser: Ferrari

Ferrari encountered a frustrating weekend in Brazil, failing to capitalize on McLaren’s struggles.
Carlos Sainz crashed during the race, while Charles Leclerc’s race lacked pace, finishing outside the points. The lack of overtaking opportunities compounded their woes, with Ferrari failing to make significant gains in the constructors’ championship.

" You wouldn’t mind but, with two Alpine’s on the podium, the lack of ability to overtake was really frustrating and costly, " lamented Jack Benyon.

Winner: Alpine

Alpine seized the opportunity presented by others’ struggles, snatching a remarkable double podium in Brazil. Esteban Ocon led for a considerable portion of the race before finishing second, while Pierre Gasly recovered well to finish third.

Alpine’s impressive performance propels them up the constructors’ standings to sixth, exceeding expectations and marking a noteworthy triumph for the team.

" ‘It rains it can bring opportunities and that’s what we need to capitalise on’ " said an optimistic Ocon during his Thursday media session. He couldn’t have been more prescient,_" added Jack Cozens.

"If that is a statement of intent for the rest of the season you are going to be a different beast going forward. A thoroughly deserved podium for a team that has been massively underwhelming until recently.

Loser: Williams, Haas and Red Bull

Several other teams experienced setbacks in Brazil:

• Williams: A disappointing weekend for Williams, with Alex Albon crashing in qualifying, and Franco Colantino having multiple incidents in both qualifying and the race.

• Haas: In true 2024 fashion, Haas faced a day filled with challenges. Both drivers encountered issues – one black-flagged and the other troubled by speed. They lost positions in the constructors’ championship to Alpine, further emphasizing their struggles.

• Red Bull: Despite a strong start with Tsunoda in third and Lawson in fifth, Red Bull couldn’t capitalize on their early advantage.

"A case of what could have been?" stated Samarth Kanal ", Decline to second in the standings because of exciting weekends from Alpine and Haas while finishing ninth."

Want to stay up-to-date with Formula 1 news and analysis? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter and get the latest insights straight to your inbox!