Max Verstappen's come-from-behind win in the pouring rain at the Brazilian Grand Prix didn't just put him a lot closer to a fourth straight Formula One title. (More Motorsport News)
After 10 races without a win, it also reminded everyone of why the Dutch driver is a three-time champion in the first place.
Verstappen delivered one of the best performance of his career to move up from 17th at the start and clinch a victory that increased his lead over McLaren's Lando Norris from 44 to 62 points with just three grand prix races and a sprint race remaining.
바카라Simply lovely,바카라 Verstappen summed it up on the team radio.
His fellow drivers were more effusive.
바카라Amazing,바카라 said seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.
바카라Incredible,바카라 gushed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
바카라Fantastic,바카라 added Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, a two-time F1 champion.
The only dissenting voice was Norris, who started on pole but finished sixth and later argued that the race was decided by luck as his team made a pit stop just before a red flag came out.
바카라He drove well, he got a bit lucky,바카라 Norris said.
바카라You take a gamble, and it has paid off for them. It is not talent; it is just luck.바카라
With only 86 points up for grabs until the end of the season, Verstappen only needs to finish ahead of Norris in Las Vegas to secure the title in two weeks.
The Red Bull driver had expected a tough weekend at Interlagos. He received a five-place grid penalty after changing his engine for the sixth time in the season; lost one point in Saturday's sprint race because of another penalty; and got unlucky during qualifying when the session was interrupted just as he was attempting to clock a fast lap, leaving him in 12th place.
But then everything went right for him in the race. He surged past rivals at the start and had passed a handful of cars before the first lap was over. In a crash-ridden race where visibility was hindered by the constant spray of water from the cars in front, Verstappen kept overtaking car after car and ended up finishing almost 20 seconds ahead of second-placed Esteban Ocon of Alpine.
바카라It was definitely an emotional win,바카라 Verstappen said. 바카라I was really motivated and put everything into this race and I surprised myself today as I wasn't expecting to finish in P1.바카라
The manner of the victory also sent a message to some of Verstappen's critics, who had described his driving style as being too aggressive.
바카라(Verstappen) silenced a few critics today,바카라 said former F1 champion Damon Hill, who himself was one of those critics.
In his post-race press conference, the Red Bull driver also took a shot at some of the British journalists who have questioned his abilities in recent weeks.
바카라I have a quick question here. I appreciate all of you being here, but I don't see any British press,바카라 Verstappen said, drawing laughter. 바카라Do they have to run to the airport, or they don't know where the press conference is?바카라
Fans at Interlagos were also impressed by the Dutch driver's performance.
Many of them, like Carlos Santos de Araújo, 65, were hesitant to support Verstappen because of his ties to Nelson Piquet, the father of his girlfriend Kelly and the main rival of another Brazilian three-time F1 champion, the late local hero Ayrton Senna.
Sunday's race put Verstappen under a different light, de Araújo said. 바카라No one can be indifferent to what Max did today. I am sure he will think this the best race of his life, one of the best here at Interlagos,바카라 he said, wearing a Senna shirt and a Mercedes cap.
바카라Hardcore F1 fans like me do like him as a driver, but today probably changed his status for us all. Anyone who thought he was just cold and sometimes arrogant will see the fighter that he was to win this. That adds to him being a champion.바카라
