There is always a possibility of the unthinkable happening during a Formula One race — an event or move capable of changing not just the result but the entire season. And, what unravelled during the double-header in Mexico and Brazil was nothing short of unbelievable. The 2024 title fight, once deemed a done deal, became quite interesting in the last few races as Lando Norris and the resurgent McLaren team rediscovered long-lost form, aiming to snatch it from the grasp of a struggling Red Bull.
ALSO READ | Mclaren vs Red Bull: Can Lando Norris beat Max Verstappen to the top - a statistical deep dive But an attempt was all that could be made, as Max Verstappen showed that one race alone can swing the odds in his favour. He did so in remarkable fashion in São Paulo, charging from 17th place to win the rain-hit and incident-laden Brazilian Grand Prix. More significant still was that he won with a lead of over 19 seconds over the car behind — the unheralded Alpine of Esteban Ocon.
The Dutchman couldn’t have chosen a better time to emerge from a 10-race winless slump, though his fighting spirit was never in doubt. ALSO READ | Verstappen answers critics with one of his best in Brazil Despite some risky moves and finding himself in the hot seat over his dipping form, the three-time World Champion pulled off one of the greatest races of his career, which now almost certainly guarantees him a fourth successive crown. However, the scene before the Brazil race painted a slightly.