Max Verstappen wins Brazilian Grand Prix: F1 – as it happened (2024)

Righto, that’s us for today. Thanks all for your comments; we’ll be back the week after next, with the first ever GP from … Vegas, baby! Peace out.

And here’s our Giles Richards:

Max Verstappen won the São Paulo Grand Prix with a controlled, dominant run from pole to flag, untroubled in Brazil as he swept to another victory for Red Bull. He comfortably beat the McLaren of Lando Norris into second and the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso in third.
For Mercedes, their recent resurgence proved to be something of a false dawn as Lewis Hamilton once more struggled with their car and could manage only eighth. Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez was fourth and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in fifth.

The remainder of his report will be here and on-site shortly.

While we were at it:

Alonso loves the celebrations, brandishing his trophy as Norris launches his bottle and Verstappen shakes his about trying his best to pretend this isn’t routine.

The top three ascend the podium and it’s time for the Dutch anthem. Again.

1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 524

2. Pérez (Red Bull) 258

3. Hamilton (Mercedes) 226

4. Alonso (Aston Martin) 198

5. Norris (McLaren) 195

6. Sainz Jr (Ferrari) 192)

7. Leclerc (Ferrari) 170

8. Russell (Mercedes) 156

“It was like 30 laps,” says Alonso of his two-lap duel with Perez. The team have been struggling for a bit, he explains, so says this podium was for the lads in the garage. As for the car, it’s a complicated one so they’re still getting to grips with it but will be better next year.

“Couldn’t have gone much better,” says Norris. He accepts that at the moment, second if the best anyone can do – like what Roger Black said about racing Michael Johnson – but he’s improving fast.

Verstappen says the starts were important today and both of his were good. The car was good on any tyre, but in the middle section they were really able to build a lead, and he had to focus on correcting the steering. He’s looking froward to Vegas, up next, as you would be if you were on a long victory lap.

1. Verstappen

2. Norris

3. Alonso

4. Pérez

5. Stroll

6. Sainz Jr

7. Gasly

8. Hamilton

9. Tsunoda

10. Ocon

    See Also

    Max Verstappen pips Lando Norris to win F1 British Grand Prix – as it happened

11. Sargeant

12. Hulkenberg

13. Ricciardo

14. Piastri

    Russell, Bottas, Zhou, Leclerc, Magnussen, Albon DNF

Oh man, what an end to that race! I’m amazed Perez didn’t have the speed to see it home, except I’m not because I’m unsurprised Alonso found the line to sneak it away.

“Absolutely clinical once again,” Horner tells Verstappen, and he’s not wrong. That was not a contest.

Lando Norris is second and here come Alonso and Perez, Alonso swerving to stay in front as they come down the straight … and it’s Alonso who hangs onto P3 by a coat of paint! Good news for Hamilton, who’s fighting Perez for second place overall.

Lap 71/71 Alonso goes at Perez and Perez sh*ts the door, but while he’s doing that, Alonso darts around him on the other side! What a brilliant finish this is and now they boust up the hill together, Alonso in front but Perez will have DRS!

Lap 70/71 Perez shapes to go inside Alonso, goes outside … AND PEREZ TAKES HIM OUT! That’s a great piece of driving, Alonso comes back and it looks like there’s space for him to pass … but he can’t! Heartbreak for Alonso and now he’s ahead, Perez’s extra power will surely see him home.

Lap 69/71 But as I type, Alonso narrows the gap to just over half a second … but again, Alonso picks a good line.

Lap 68/71 Perez isn’t going to get Alonso is he? The gap is 0.755s, and the veteran has done a brilliant job, earning every inch of his podom.

Lap 67/71 Verstappen now leads by almost 8.5s. He’s rubbing it in now.

Lap 66/71 And still Alonso defends his podium while, everywhere else, things are pretty much settled.

Lap 65/71 I think Alonso might just hold Perez off, you know. He leads by 0.772 and even when DRS is involved, the old stager is doing the necessary.

Lap 64/71 "“Max is having a season that may never be equalled,” writes Willem Villet, and he’s not wrong. He’s got the perfect combination of equanimity and aggression.

Lap 63/71 Norris smashes the best lap time as Perez chisels a few more fractions off Alonso, the gap now roundabout 0.6s.

1. Verstappen

2. Norris

3. Alonso

4. Perez

5. Stroll

6. Sainz

7. Gasly

8. Hamilton

9. Tsunoda

10. Ocon

11. Sargeant

12. Hulkenberg

13. Ricciardo

14. Piastri

Lap 62/71 “A masterclass in defensive driving and strategic driving,” says David Croft of Alonso, and it’s so great to watch a wily old pro using his experience to negate mechanical advantage. The gap is 0.890.

Lap 61/71 Perez gets DRS … and again, Alonso holds him off. He’s defending superbly here – it’s as if he knows which way Perez is going to go.

Lap 60/71 Norris comes in and Veratappen regains the lead; Alonso defends third place as Perez attacks.

Lap 59/71 Verstappen sets a fastest lap, the gap to Norris now 8.255; Russell, winner here last term, is told to retire his car. It’s been a miserable weekend fo Mercedes.

Lap 58/71 I say the below, but if there’s a safety-car situation now, Norris is beautifully placed to make it close.

Lap 57/71 Verstappen comes in and will emerge still in front; he and Nozz will be the 1-2, but Alonso and Perez are still contesting the final podium position.

Lap 56/71 Perez is 0.575s behind Alonso now, and surely will overtake at some point between now and the chequered flag. Alonso, though, will do everything possible and then some to hang on.

Lap 55/71 Ocon sets a fastest lap; he’s 14th but won’t, I don’t think be able to make up the 13.761s separating him from Russell.