As RaceFans reports, Max Verstappen pulled off a stunning drive through the field at Interlagos to finish second from 21st on the grid. Because Valtteri Bottas started his Cadillac from the pit lane, the Red Bull driver was effectively the 20th car off the line. That wild climb marks the lowest starting position anyone has taken second place from since the 1983 Long Beach Grand Prix, when Niki Lauda charged through from 23rd to finish behind teammate John Watson in a McLaren one-two.
At the sharp end of the field, Lando Norris took his 14th grand prix victory and his 20th pole position. That win puts Norris level on career victories with Jack Brabham, Graham Hill, and Emerson Fittipaldi, while his poles match the tallies of Damon Hill and Valtteri Bottas. It also marked the 50th podium of his career. Meanwhile, Verstappen kept his momentum alive by claiming his eighth consecutive podium finish, the longest active streak in the field this year.
Isack Hadjar equalled his best career result with a fourth third-place finish. He even briefly ran at the front of the pack after Norris pitted on lap 49, though he didn't officially lead a lap because he pitted on the very next circuit, allowing Andrea Kimi Antonelli to cross the line ahead. Further back, Liam Lawson drove to a seventh-place finish for the second consecutive race, single-handedly scoring enough points to keep Racing Bulls fifth in the constructors' championship.
Milestones and unwanted records piled up across the grid. Lewis Hamilton became only the second driver in Formula 1 history to reach 400 grand prix starts, joining Fernando Alonso, who hit the same milestone two years ago. Haas handed a debut to rookie Rafael Camara at his home race, making him the first driver to debut at a home grand prix since Markus Winkelhock at the 2007 European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. Camara raced with the number 51, a digit last seen in Abu Dhabi in 2020 on another Brazilian driving for Haas, Pietro Fittipaldi.
On the flip side, Lance Stroll suffered yet another retirement, marking the 14th time this year he has failed to be classified by completing 90% of the race distance. That ties the all-time record previously set by Andrea de Cesaris in 1986 with Minardi and 1987 with Brabham, Piercarlo Ghinzani in 1986 with Osella, Ivan Capelli in 1989 with Leyton House, and Rubens Barrichello in 1997 with Stewart. Stroll now stands within reach of matching or exceeding De Cesaris's historic mark for most total non-finishes in a single season.
F1
F1
