Verstappen Proves Untouchable, McLaren Blunder and Alpine have a blinder!
Rain, chaos, and frustration reigned supreme at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Max Verstappen delivered one of the most jaw-dropping wet-weather drives we’ve seen in years, charging from P17 to take an emphatic victory. Meanwhile, McLaren’s latest strategy disasters left Lando Norris and fans questioning how this team keeps fumbling, while Mercedes & Ferrari just don’t have an answer to Max on a day like today.
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix was an education in skill and strategy from Max Verstappen and a brutal reminder to the rest of the grid about who’s still in charge. While the Dutchman delivered a frustratingly great performance, McLaren’s timid strategy, Ferrari’s dismal day, and Mercedes’ ongoing struggles exposed just how far off the pace they really are.
Max Verstappen: P17 to Victory—This is How It’s Done
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Verstappen’s drive was fantastic, and disappointing to see how much his competitors struggle in the rain. Starting way back in P17 after a miserable qualifying session, he put on a wet-weather drive that showed why he’s going to win his 4th drivers championship in the next few weeks.
Within the first lap, he’d climbed to P11, then, thanks to a red flag after Franco Colapinto’s crash, Verstappen found himself in prime position with a free tyre change (much to Lando’s frustration). From there, it was only a matter of time before he took the lead, brushing past Esteban Ocon after another safety car restart and building a massive 19-second gap by the end.
As a ‘non Max fan’ (congrats to those who are), if anyone in the paddock was still wondering if Verstappen is the best all-round driver on the grid, they’ve just been silenced.
McLaren’s Strategy: Norris throws in the towel on this championship
McLaren’s performance was a case study in unfulfilled potential. Lando Norris started on pole, but after losing the lead to George Russell off the line, McLaren’s pit strategy left him compromised on track position at the Red Flag. What was more confusing is that McLaren failed to dive straight into the pits just prior to what was going to be an obvious virtual safety car, leaving their pit until after the VSC had ended, making the timing of the pit the worst of all situations.
With a series of errors and struggling in the wet, Norris eventually finished a disappointing P6, and he—and the fans—are right to be frustrated. That’s it, the championship is over. Max will take his 4th title.
For a team with championship ambitions, McLaren are indecisive at critical times and seem to think their recent speed will last indefinitely, but in Formula 1, standing still means you’re falling behind. If McLaren’s strategy team doesn’t learn to be more decisive and firm, they’ll watch next season slip away just like this one.
Ferrari’s Flop: From Rising Contenders to Zandvoort Zeros
Ferrari’s recent resurgence hit a wall in Sao Paulo—literally, in Carlos Sainz’s case. After showing flashes of competitiveness in recent races, Ferrari arrived in Brazil with high hopes. Instead, they left with a bruised ego and a big question mark over their consistency. Charles Leclerc struggled to keep up with the leading McLarens and Red Bulls, never looking truly competitive. As for Sainz, his weekend was nothing short of a nightmare, crashing out in both qualifying and the race itself.
Ferrari fans have every reason to be frustrated. For a team that’s supposed to be climbing back to the top, their form was off in the rain. Sainz’s double crash is more than just a bad day at the office; and one that he’ll no doubt regret.
Mercedes: Familiar Missteps, Same Results
For Mercedes, once again, their race craft fell flat. George Russell’s early lead was quickly thrown away after an ill-timed pit stop under a Virtual Safety Car with Lando. Russell was left to play catch-up, eventually finishing in P4, just out of reach of the podium. Lewis Hamilton, known for his skill in the rain, was surprisingly off the pace, complaining over the radio about the car’s handling. Finishing a lowly P8, Hamilton’s performance was far from the “rain master” reputation he once held.
Mercedes keeps talking about their plans to come back stronger, but Brazil made it clear that they’re still struggling.
Alpine’s Unexpected Triumph: Ocon and Gasly Capitalise on the Chaos
If there was one team that turned up to play, it was Alpine. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly pulled off a shock double podium, bringing home P2 and P3, respectively. In a season marred by setbacks, Alpine seized the moment, keeping their cars on track and taking advantage of the rain, red flags and safety cars. Ocon led for a brief stint after the red flag, and though he couldn’t hold off Verstappen after a subsequent safety car, his drive was one of the highlights of the weekend. Gasly, meanwhile, held off George Russell’s late charge to lock in third, a gritty performance that Alpine will be celebrating for a long time.
Stroll and Williams: A Day of Embarrassment
Let’s talk about the less successful moments. Lance Stroll’s bizarre decision to beach his car during the formation lap was a head-scratcher. After an off-track moment, he somehow managed to drive straight into the gravel and trying to return to the track rather than staying on the tarmac. It was an embarrassing blunder that raises questions about his place on the grid. Stroll, of all the drivers, would likely be the least missed now that Sargant has gone.
As for Williams, their weekend fell apart before it even began. Alex Albon’s heavy crash in Q3 meant he couldn’t take part in the race—a costly mistake, given he’d placed his car in P2 at that point. Pushing that hard in qualifying, with so little time to repair the car before the race, was a gamble that didn’t pay off. Williams threw away a valuable points haul and will be left kicking themselves for not playing it safer.
Conclusion: Verstappen’s Championship Nearly Locked, McLaren and Ferrari Running Out of Excuses
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix wasn’t just a race; it was a wake-up call. Max Verstappen’s incredible performance underscored what the top of the field looks like: bold, aggressive, and willing to take risks. Meanwhile, McLaren’s overly cautious and indecisive approach has (in reality) ended any hopes they had of closing the gap to Verstappen in the drivers championship, while Ferrari’s disastrous day shows they still haven’t found the consistency needed to challenge for the top spots. Mercedes continue to tread water, a team that looks a little lost.
For McLaren, this season will go down as one of missed opportunities and hesitant strategies. The “what if” factor will linger, but the reality is clear: if they don’t adapt and become bolder, they’re not going to close the gap on Red Bull. Ferrari & Mercedes face a similar challenge; unless they tighten up their race craft, their recent resurgence will fade as quickly as it came.
We have another year of Max being world champion, which race will it be confirmed?
Author: Fred Warner
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