Max Verstappen is a few weeks away from his fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship, barring any unforeseen circumstances. He hasn’t been as dominant as he used to be this season, but he is still getting the job done.
The Dutchman’s Formula 1 2024 odds of winning it all (again) have taken a huge boost after he won last weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Verstappen can, in fact, clinch the drivers’ championship as soon as the Las Vegas Grand Prix later this month.
Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly were the biggest surprises in last week’s Formula 1 2024 results after finishing second and third behind Max Verstappen in Interlagos.
On the other hand, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will be on the unemployment line, as Sauber decided to let them go next season.
In case you missed the latest Formula 1 happenings, fret not, as SBOTOP has you covered.
Verstappen breaks drought in Sao Paulo
Max Verstappen had a rough qualifying since he finished 12th on the grid, which turned into P17 after receiving a five-grid penalty for an engine change.
The odds were stacked against Max Verstappen, as many thought the stage was set for Lando Norris to cut into the Dutchman’s lead, but the Red Bull star had other plans.
Verstappen then put out a drive for the ages, despite the wet weather, as he climbed his way to the top to claim the chequered flag.
He went as high as P11 on the very first lap before improving to P2 behind Alpine’s Esteban Ocon when a red flag was flashed on Lap 32 after Franco Colapinto suffered a DNF when he slammed into a wall.
Ocon kept the lead for a few laps after the restart, but Verstappen overtook the Alpine driver for good on a subsequent Lap 43 restart after a Safety Car intervention for Carlos Sainz Jr.’s DNF. The Dutchman opened a 19.477s gap over the Frenchman in the final 26 laps to win.
This was Max Verstappen’s first race win since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, while drivers’ championship rival Lando Norris finished P6. As a result, Verstappen’s title lead has ballooned to 62 points, and he can clinch his fourth career Formula 1 title in Sin City.
Verstappen’s masterclass also meant that Red Bull closed the gap in the constructors’ standings, as the Milton Keynes outfit now only trails by 49 points against top-seeded McLaren and 13 points against second-seeded Ferrari.
Alpine achieve rare double podium
Meanwhile, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly caught everyone by surprise with their 2-3 finish in the wet Interlagos track. This is the stuff that dreams are made of since Ocon and Gasly are childhood friends, as they grew up in Normandy.
During the qualifying session, Ocon set himself up well to start P4 on the grid, while Gasly had to settle for P13 after he was unable to set a lap due to a chaotic run.
During the actual race, Alpine took advantage of the red flag caused by Franco Colapinto, as they were able to change their tyres during a “free” pit stop.
Ocon held on for P2, despite being overtaken by Max Verstappen, while Gasly defended well in the closing stages of the race against a determined George Russell, who eventually finished P4.
Because of their shock podium double, Alpine improved to sixth (from ninth) in the constructors’ standings, putting themselves above stronger midfield teams like Haas and RB.
Out with the old, in with the new for Sauber
Sauber will look a lot different next season, as Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will take the two Formula 1 seats, leaving Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu out of their jobs.
Sauber felt the need to change their drivers because they’re dead last in this season’s constructors’ championship since Bottas and Guanyu failed to score a single point thus far.
While we all know what Nico Hulkenberg brings to the table, the acquisition of Gabriel Bortoleto is a major coup for Sauber.
Gabriel Bortoleto is the reigning F3 champion and leads the F2 drivers’ championship. The 20-year-old Brazilian has the opportunity to become only the sixth driver to win the F2 title in his rookie campaign after Oscar Piastri, George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Nico Hulkenberg, and Lewis Hamilton.
“Gabriel has already demonstrated in the junior categories that he has what it takes to be a winning driver,” Sauber’s Mattia Binotto said in a statement. “Nico and Gabriel represent the ideal combination of experience and youth, positioning us strongly for the future.”
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