By: The Brazilian Grand Prix captured the attention of spectators thanks to the remarkable uncertainty on track, Lando Norris’s victory — shedding the world champion’s title in the manner most fitting for someone who wears it — and the strong races delivered by Hadjar, Lawson and Hulkenberg.
Much attention was paid to Ferrari’s misfortunes, the post-race penalties and, rightly, the constructors’ title, which rewarded Mercedes and the W17, crowned queen of the single-seaters in this first season under the new regulations.
Not many gave Max Verstappen the recognition he deserved, and perhaps it is worth underlining the result achieved by the four-time Dutch world champion by stating it plainly:
Verstappen finished second after starting 21st, ahead only of Checo Perez’s Cadillac, because of the penalty imposed on him for replacing the internal combustion engine and other Power Unit components."
A result that seemed inevitable, almost routine and ordinary for a driver who, moreover, said he was not exactly satisfied with his car throughout the weekend, including the race.
A monstrous start to the race
The opening five minutes of the race were utterly masterful: after the start, the Hasselt star overtook numerous rivals and crossed the line in 14th place.
By the end of lap two, he was already up to 10th; after only three laps, he was firmly seventh; and by lap 12, he was already fifth.
A monstrous start to the race, as though he were the only driver on dry tyres among drivers trying to cope in the wet, and without paying the price theorised by Vasseur for those, like Hamilton, who made a start of the same calibre.
What Verstappen did at Interlagos on Sunday was a drive infused with the same mastery we recognised in him in 2024, when it was right to speak of a feat while he was at the wheel of a car far more competitive than the current one.
Only the victory was missing, making it all seem a little more normal, a little more negligible.
Routinely second in the world championship
This season, as in the previous one — that is, since his car has no longer been the best in the field — Red Bull’s leading light has shown us the meaning of the word exceptional.
Especially this season, at the wheel of an RB22 that was not born entirely healthy, Verstappen has been driving superbly, maximising every opportunity without leaving valuable points on the table. That has left him, after the São Paulo race, deservedly second in the drivers’ standings, behind only the untouchable reigning champion Kimi Antonelli.
And yet Verstappen is barely making headlines any more.
His feats are becoming almost routine.
We have discovered Max’s ordinariness.
All the news, photos, weather, session times and times from the Brazilian GP 2026
