Max Verstappen showcased an incredible performance at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, marking a stunning return to form after a ten-race winless streak.

After a tough qualifying session where he ended up P12 due to a late red flag, Verstappen was hit with a five-place grid penalty for changing his engine, starting the race in P17.

The rain-soaked conditions at Interlagos led to a chaotic race filled with incidents, but Verstappen excelled in the challenging environment. He quickly climbed through the field, reaching the scoring positions before a red flag caused by Franco Colapinto’s shunt on lap 32, gave Red Bull the opportunity to change his tyres without losing any time.

Once the race resumed, the Verstappen found himself in second place behind Esteban Ocon, who also benefited from the red flag and nailed the rolling restart. However, the Dutchman took his time and overtook the Alpine on a lap 43 restart after a Safety Car period caused by Carlos Sainz’s retirement.

After taking the lead, Verstappen opened up a huge gap, finishing 19.477 seconds ahead of Ocon and also earning an extra point for the fastest lap.

This win not only marked Verstappen’s first since the Spanish Grand Prix in June but also increased his lead in the championship to 62 points over Lando Norris, who finished sixth after starting from pole.

On top of everything, the reigning champion also broke Fernando Alonso’s record as he became the first F1 driver to win from ten different grid positions.

After the race, Red Bull team principal Horner had nothing but high praise for his driver.

"It was a masterclass and I think in those conditions the drivers skill really comes to the fore, he was in a league of his own," Horner told Sky Sports F1. 

"So I think as a team, we got all the calls right. The car had great pace, so an outstanding drive to come from 17th. 

"In qualifying, it felt like everything had gone against us, but he turned it round."

He added: "I think in the wet and the dry, he's the best in the world at the moment.

"It's been a while, but I think that the whole team have really kept their heads and worked incredibly hard.

"We fought ourselves back into a winning position, that's testament to the effort that goes on behind-the-scenes back in Milton Keynes, that nobody ever gives up. We've demonstrated that."

With the Las Vegas Grand Prix coming up, Verstappen is in a strong position to possibly secure his fourth world title if he outscores Norris by two or more points.