His victory was monumental, a success that will be remembered for years. Starting from 17th position due to a penalty and missing out on Q2, Max Verstappen once again showcased his incredible skill. This performance was fueled by an intense competitive anger that nearly spilled over to his garage before the start of the 2024 Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix.
The 2024 Sao Paulo GP will be remembered for numerous events—from endless plot twists to red flags, VSC, and SC incidents that marked the 71 laps. The race took place in challenging conditions, with extremely variable weather and torrential rain that forced qualifying to be postponed to Sunday morning.
Qualifying was intensely wet, featuring five red flags, with several drivers hitting the wall. Some, including the Red Bull driver, were struck by unfortunate circumstances that prevented them from completing a clean lap. Max Verstappen was eliminated in Q2 after a red flag ended the session prematurely, sparking anger as he struck the steering wheel upon learning the session was over.
This rage, a familiar sight in Max Verstappen, even affected his world championship-winning garage. After the race, the Dutchman admitted his pre-race frustration but ultimately returned to the top after ten races.
A Champion’s Victory
Reflecting on the race, Max Verstappen admitted that his emotions had shifted from nearly destroying the garage to winning on track. Starting from P17, he knew they could perform well, but qualifying made it clear that overtaking would be challenging. Despite that, he managed a strong start in the race.
Even with a solid start, the Dutchman admitted he grew concerned as the rain intensified.
“When some drivers pitted as the rain increased, we stayed out, which was very risky. Then I saw Esteban ahead, going four seconds faster per lap, and thought, ‘I’m just glad to keep the car on the track.’ At one point, everything was red, and a red flag seemed needed. The track became undrivable due to banking that filled up quickly, making it feel almost like steering a boat.” – he revealed at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix in Interlagos.
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