Verstappen’s weekend had been fairly disappointing up until the start of the Grand Prix, having been eliminated in Q1 with the sixteenth fastest time and well off the podium in the sprint race.

The four-time world champion chose to fit a new power unit and tweak his setup in a bid to recover positions during the race. Starting from the pit lane, the Dutchman put on a phenomenal comeback, climbing up to the podium and coming close to overtaking Kimi Antonelli for second place.

After the race, Gianpiero Lambiase took the opportunity to apologise for a weekend that had been underwhelming until that point, with the two sharing a moment of genuine sportsmanship.

Lando Norris turned a strong Brazil GP weekend into a pivotal moment in the championship battle. After showing blistering pace in qualifying and the sprint race, the McLaren driver carried that form into the main Grand Prix, claiming victory and taking a commanding haul of points.

The win puts Norris in a strong position with three races remaining, giving him a solid buffer over his rivals. Max Verstappen, meanwhile, staged an impressive comeback from the pit lane to reach the podium, but the points deficit means the Dutchman faces a tough challenge to stay in contention for the title.