Max Verstappen astounded everyone by driving from the pit lane to the podium in São Paulo. The Dutchman made an impressive comeback, ultimately only having to concede to Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris. This helped him limit the damage in the championship, although Norris extended his lead. According to the international press, the Brit is the title favourite after this ‘dream weekend’, despite the ‘legendary’ performance by the Dutchman.
“Norris wins the São Paulo GP, with a spectacular performance from Verstappen,” headlines the Brazilian branch of ESPN. In the host country of the Grand Prix, they saw the British McLaren driver extend his lead towards a first driver’s title. “Norris dominated the race – after winning the sprint and claiming pole position, he won the main event on Sunday. This marked a significant step in the title fight. However, the highlight of the day was the comeback race by Max Verstappen, who had a very poor qualification. He started from the pits after adjustments to his car. But nothing is impossible for the four-time champion; he drove a fantastic race and finished third, completing the podium.”
All Praise for Antonelli
At Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, much attention is naturally given to young Kimi Antonelli, who separated Norris and Verstappen on the podium. “Behind Norris, the 19-year-old put on a show and resisted Verstappen’s advance in the final rounds,” says the duty editor. “A ‘shark’ like Verstappen was on the chase, but Antonelli turned into a veteran capable of keeping him at bay. It was an incredible comeback by the Dutchman, until he ran into the Italian rookie. He climbed the second step of the podium for the first time. He only had to concede to Norris.”
According to the pink sports newspaper, the latter had a ‘dream weekend’ at Interlagos. “The Brit made a big move in the championship and strengthened his lead,” the report reads. Meanwhile, teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri had to suffer. “Piastri finished fifth and was once again in the negative spotlight. The Australian lost his podium chances due to an early incident, which led to Charles Leclerc‘s retirement.” It was the first of two retirements for Ferrari. “For Ferrari, the race ended in a double zero score,” the Italians conclude disappointedly.
Verstappen’s Comeback Race Not Enough for Fifth Title
After Verstappen’s masterful comeback race, even the British media had to bow down. The Daily Mail was in disbelief after the race. “Verstappen drove like a god,” the tabloid reports. “From the pit lane, he shot to third place, further enhancing his legendary status as a driver. Another superman performance won’t secure him the title, but kudos to Red Bull for taking this gamble. It was a memorable race, comparable to Schumacher’s last Ferrari race in Brazil. But even the German great didn’t get further than fourth place when he had to start from the back of the grid,” they underline Verstappen’s performance.
Finally, they are also impressed in France by Verstappen’s feat. However, L’Équipe also doesn’t believe in a new world title for the Dutchman. “Verstappen finished third after having to start from the pit lane due to an engine change,” writes the French medium. “He did take advantage of the circumstances – early retirements of the Ferraris, differing strategies, and even a slowly deflating tire, which forced him to come in for mediums earlier. Nevertheless, he delivered an impressive performance. Verstappen is unlikely to become a five-time champion, but he can still chase Oscar Piastri’s second place,” they write.
According to the French, the São Paulo GP could possibly be ‘a significant turning point’ in the title fight. “Norris, who took pole position for the sprint race, won that sprint, then also started from pole in the Grand Prix and was untouchable at Interlagos, was clearly the man of the weekend,” concludes the report. “But also the man of the championship. His lead is now not only numerical – he also leads mentally.”
