"Among my best ten F1 races," claims Verstappen after his incredible victory at Sao Paulo
Hot on the heels of his impressive win at last Sunday's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, reigning champion Max Verstappen reckoned that his first win since the Spanish Grand Prix is among his best ten victories of his career.
Having shown encouraging pace in Sunday's early qualifying, Max Verstappen only qualified 12th after being unable to finish his Q2 lap due to red flags. As a result of his grid drop penalty, he was demoted to P17 on the grid. The Dutch driver had a brilliant getaway, picking up a handful of places on the first lap alone. From there he displayed enourmous pace, proving particularly strong and comfortable under breaking.
He managed to climb through the field, but he got stuck behind the trio of Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon and Chalres Leclerc. He stayed out under the VSC while his direct rivals pitted. Although it could have been disastrous for Verstappen, but a red flag followed soon after which meant he was able to get a free change of tyres in the pit lane.
After the race was restarted, the reigning champion found himself in second spot. Just a lap later, he overtook Alpine driver Ocon on track and disappeared up the road for a famous win, and his first Grand prix victory since June.
Asked to rate his race at Sao Paulo, the Dutch driver reckoned that last Sunday's 69-lap race in the extremely challenging conditions is among his personal ten best Grands Prix.
"I mean, for sure, those two are definitely in my top ten list. But this one is definitely much more crucial than back in the day. There I had nothing to lose. I was not in a championship fight and I was coming from the back after the strategic mistake we had.
"Now there was a lot more at stake. So I had to be more controlled, more aware of the championship. So for me, definitely this one is the best one. And about the wet, I don't know, I just said to Esteban as well, it's like back in the day in go-karting, you know, the guys that were good in the wet, they're good nowadays also in Formula 1.
"And it always just, yeah. I was racing them as well in the go-karting and they were also good in the wet, you know, so it definitely is a thing that you pick up when you're younger, I think when you practice a lot. I think where we come from, it definitely rains a bit more than maybe in some other places.
"And yeah, you go out there, you practice, you get more comfortable, and you are definitely tuning your skills to be better. And I think you carry that, and of course, you evolve and become even better. And you use that to your advantage."
With his girlfriend Kelly Piquet, the daughter of the three-time Formula One champion Nelson Piquet coming from Brazil, Verstappen has spent much time there over the last years.
Commenting on his relationship with Brazil, the Dutchman noted: "My family-in-law is Brazilian. And, I appreciate it a lot, meeting all of them all the time when I'm coming over. You know, it's, of course, quite a travel from Europe, but we always try to combine it with the Grand Prix and stay a bit… Well, we come earlier and we stay a bit longer.
"Also for Kelly, of course, to spend more time with the family. And yeah, I've been really welcomed very nicely within the family. Of course, there's a massive history as well with racing within the family. So it's really cool.
"Honestly, I really enjoy being around the Brazilian mentality as well. I think it suits me quite well. My Portuguese is still very bad. So maybe when I stop racing, I need to take some lessons.
"But yeah, it's always, when I come here also to Sao Paulo, it's a track that I want to do well. Naturally, when you have a bit of a connection to Brazil, it's cool. And when you can do a day like today, it makes it even better."
