Verstappen's masterclass in the wet puts another title in sight

When the world championship is finally decided, the moment where it was surely settled was appropriately with what must be considered the drive of the season from Max Verstappen.

- Giles Richards

The Dutchman's uncompromising style and aggression has come under enormous scrutiny of late but with his victory from 17th on the grid at the São Paulo Grand Prix he gave a stark reminder that, for all that, he is an exceptional driver and in so doing left his title rival Lando Norris's hopes shattered.

This was a peerless performance, a masterclass in the rain in Brazil that has deservedly all but clinched Verstappen's fourth title but a more unlikely win was hard to imagine before the lights went out.

What had begun with such optimism that Norris could bring about a pivotal shift in the championship battle was reduced to nought after Verstappen's remarkable victory, a swing then but one perhaps only the world champion himself might have imagined.

It was achieved in a suitably dramatic and gripping contest as Verstappen came back amid the spray, running water and treacherous glassy surface, and Norris fell from pole to finish in sixth.

The Dutchman can divide opinion, yet at his best he is thrilling to watch and at Interlagos he made the heart soar.

Verstappen's drive was admittedly favoured by a little good fortune, yet still mighty in the conditions in which a host of drivers crashed out and the race was stopped because of the intensity of the rain at one point.

Even his superlative demonstration in 2016 in the wet at Interlagos, when he came back from 16th to finish third, was no match for this.