Red Bull’s Max Verstappen staged one of the most remarkable drives of his career at the São Paulo Grand Prix, finishing an astonishing third after starting from the pit lane. However, despite the thrilling comeback that earned him the Driver of the Day award, the Dutch champion admitted the points deficit has likely doomed his title defense. Following the race on Sunday, Verstappen trails Championship leader Lando Norris by a substantial 49 points.
The Verstappen Brazilian GP P3 performance was a masterclass in overtaking, recovering from a pit lane start taken after a disastrous qualifying and engine change and overcoming an early puncture. He scythed through the field to secure the podium finish behind winner Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. Norris’s victory was decisive, further boosting his title bid, which now holds a 24-point margin over his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen had previously declared his world championship hopes should be “forgotten” immediately after his disappointing qualifying session. His sentiment remained subdued after the race, noting that while the team found “incredible” pace, the damage from earlier in the weekend was too severe to fully mitigate. With only 83 points still available across the final three races, the mountain to climb is steep, forcing him to rely on severe misfortune for the McLaren drivers.
Though his performance proved he is not ready to surrender, the Verstappen Brazilian GP P3 effort was ultimately limited in its title impact. While he gained crucial points on Piastri, the gap to Norris widened. The four-time champion must now approach the upcoming races in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi with a mindset focused on race wins rather than a title defense that has slipped decisively away.
