Verstappen wins São Paulo GP from 17th on F1 grid as Norris struggles – live reaction | Formula One

Final standings:

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

2. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

3. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

4. George Russell (Mercedes)

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

6. Lando Norris (McLaren)

7. Yuki Tsunoda (RB)

8. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

9. Liam Lawson (RB)

10. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

11. Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)

12. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

13. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)

14. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

15. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)

16. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

17. Franco Colapinto (Williams)

18. Nico Hülkenberg (Haas)

19. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

Our top three chat happily together, rehashing the race before they go out on the podium to loud cheers. That is quite rare, you usually get one or two grumpy faces who are upset they have lost and opt to stay silent before going on stage.

The top three speak after the race. Verstappen on his win:

My emotions today were a rollercoaster. Starting in P17 I knew it would be a very tough race. We stayed out of trouble, made the right calls, we stayed calm and we were flying.

It was very hard to pass around here with the new tarmac. I knew I had to go for it.

Ocon:

After a difficult season, what a day. Someone very important to us said: ‘In the rain, the cars are almost equal.’ I am so happy to be on the podium. The car was extremely difficult on the dry and I felt that ease when it rained.

Gasly:

It’s incredible for the whole team. We have had a tough season but in this conditions anything is possible. Two cars on the podium, I don’t think anyone would have had that on their bingo card. Everyone should be very proud today.

Russell finishes fourth and Leclerc fifth.

Norris finishes in sixth but that may change after the investigation for that start issue on the grid. Awful day for McLaren.

Verstappen’s arms are outstretched on his car before he runs to his team to hug them all. He finished 19sec ahead of second place and his run of 10 GPs without a win ends. He can win his fourth title in Las Vegas if he beats Norris there.

Verstappen wins the São Paulo Grand Prix

Lap 65/69: Another fastest lap for Verstappen. This might be one of his best races of the season, given how far back he was. Pérez bails after trying to get past Hamilton. Alonso tells his radio that he will finish the race for the mechanics but that his back is in pain and that the “bouncing is not normal”.

Lap 62/69: Norris’ radio tells him that Piastri have a penalty so to get as close to Leclerc but Norris interrupts to tell him that is what he is trying to do. He sounds quite frustrated.

Lap 61/69: Alpine have two and three in the podium right now. They will jump from ninth to sixth in constructers standings. They have also not done a pit stop.

Lap 59/69: Ten laps to go! Verstappen well in front as he once again hits another fastest lap. He is 10.5sec in front. A masterclass from him if this stays as is. McLaren is having a day to forget as Norris and Piastri are stuck in sixth and seventh.

Lap 56/69: That incident between Pérez and Lawson has been noted by the FIA as they did touch. Lawson says to his team that Pérez drove into the side of him.

Lap 55/69: Pérez tries again against Lawson and they’re wheel to wheel but again he can’t find the speed. The Mexican then goes wide and Hamilton overtakes him.

Lap 54/69: Pérez desperate to overtake Lawson into ninth but the rain makes it impossible even though he is on the inside. He keeps trying the move though.

Lap 52/69: Verstappen is being told to find a bit of water because one of his front tyres is at peak heat and it needs to be cooled down. He still leads by almost 7sec.

Lap 51/69: Piastri is under pressure by Tsunoda and the two go head to head but the McLaren driver has the inside and just manages to keep his spot.

Lap 50/69: Leclerc is comfortable with his tyres and his pace and Norris is struggling to overtake. He is constantly going wide on turns which is obviously cutting into his time.

Lap 49/69: Verstappen has just marked up three fastest laps in a row. Unreal.

Lap 46/69: Piastri makes way for his teammate Norris who us now at sixth. He now looks to take over Leclerc and Russell. Leclerc has been noted for joining the track unsafely at Turn 4 – another infringement.

Lap 45/69: Fastest lap for Verstappen at 1:22.876.

Lap 44/69: Alonso goes wide at Turn 12 and is on the grass.

Lap 43/69: Remember, Verstappen was in P17 at the beginning and he now leads by 1.5sec. Ocon in second and Gasly. Norris still in seventh after that disastrous restart with Piastri, Russell and Leclerc ahead of him.

Verstappen overtakes Ocon for the lead

Lap 42/69: Leclerc’s radio tells him there may be more rain at the end of the race. The safety car is ending and Verstappen is weaving around, trying to get some heat under his tyres.

Lap 41/69: Norris’ radio tells him to stay off the white lines. It seems that’s where a lot of the cars are slipping. The safety car is still out there so no change in the positions yet.

Lap 40/69: Ocon still leading with Verstappen behind. Norris in fifth.

Sainz crashes

Lap 38/69: Norris tells his radio that if the weather stays as it is then it will be those tyres until the end.

Lap 37/69: Tsunoda’s pace has seemingly disappeared. He is down to eighth and is struggling against Hamilton.

Lap 36/69: Bearman goes spinning off and into the barriers in an unforced error. Yellow flag goes up but he gets back onto the track in 16th and last place. It has been a bit of a tough race for him.

Lap 35/69: Ocon 2sec ahead of Verstappen. Hamilton back into the top 10 but the view shows us he is basically driving into a wall of water.