(Motorsport-Total.com) – Max Verstappen considers his victory at the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix as one of his best races. In a YouTube video from the official Formula 1 channel, the four-time world champion talks about the chaotic rain race in São Paulo.
Read more Formula 1 Tires 2026: Which Compounds at Which Grand Prix?
“We had some bad luck in qualifying, which meant I had to start from the back,” explains the Red Bull driver. “In addition, there was a small penalty because we changed something on the car, which I didn’t know about. That pushed us even further back.”
Nevertheless, the 2024 world champion managed to fight his way through the field bit by bit in the rain chaos: “I like rain races,” Verstappen continues. “Especially in Interlagos, rain races are really chaotic. But I knew I had to fight my way forward to win the title.”
Formula 1 Quiz
How many wins has Max Verstappen achieved in Formula 1?
Test yourself now in the Formula 1 quiz and compare yourself with other users
Later, the Grand Prix was interrupted with a red flag. Strategically, Verstappen could definitely benefit from this pause: “That gave us the opportunity to win the race,” explains the champion. “That was certainly one of my best races, especially because the victory was necessary for the championship. Those are very good memories.”
Read more Expert: George Russell’s problem is more psychological than mathematical
While the competition in the form of Lando Norris faltered, Verstappen was able to secure important points in the world championship battle in the pouring rain of São Paulo. This preliminary decision enabled the Dutchman to win the title at the following Grand Prix in Las Vegas.
The rain skills of the long-distance enthusiast were already known before his career in Grand Prix racing. It was a now legendary Formula 3 race at the Norisring that ultimately convinced Helmut Marko to put the young driver in the Toro Rosso cockpit for 2015.
The then 16-year-old drove his first season in single-seater racing in the Formula 3 Euro Series and battled with now well-known names like Esteban Ocon, Lucas Auer, or Tom Blomqvist. Added to this is the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix, where Verstappen shone with outstanding car control and a podium finish in rainy São Paulo.
Read more Monaco 1996: How an underdog made Formula 1 history with Ligier