Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has lauded Max Verstappen’s phenomenal comeback victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, calling it “one of the great drives in Formula 1.” Starting from an improbable 17th on the grid, Verstappen stormed to victory, finishing nearly 20 seconds ahead of Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. The win, which saw Verstappen maneuver through heavy traffic and avoid countless pitfalls, highlighted his remarkable racecraft and steely resilience.
A grid position that low was due to both a power unit penalty and a run of misfortune in qualifying when a red flag interrupted the session. Yet rather than letting frustration bog him down, Verstappen’s focus only sharpened—a quality Horner says underscores his unique strengths as a competitor.
“Max isn’t the kind of driver who needs a pep talk. His mental resilience is immense, and he processes setbacks in his own way,” Horner explained. “I haven’t seen him that animated on a podium in years; it clearly meant a lot. Today was one of those races that goes down in history, a masterclass in race control and skill.”
Verstappen’s strategy at the start was equally thrilling. Pulling a daring move around the outside of Turn 3, he picked off multiple cars before diving inside Lewis Hamilton at Turn 1 to gain six places within the opening lap. With audacious overtakes and precision braking, Verstappen made it clear he wasn’t holding back.
“The start was electric, reminding me of some of the greatest first laps we’ve seen in the sport,” Horner continued. “He was passing car after car, holding late on the brakes, and threading his way up the field like it was second nature. He moved up six places on that first lap alone, something reminiscent of Senna at Donington in ’93.”
Verstappen’s extraordinary progress didn’t stop there. He continued to chip away at the field, using his car’s speed and his own skillful maneuvering to pick off rivals one by one, including the likes of Hamilton and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. By the time the race restarted after a late caution, Verstappen quickly seized the lead from Ocon and proceeded to leave the field behind, often pulling away by a full second per lap.
“On a pretty dreary day, he shone pretty brightly,” Horner concluded. “We’ve known we had the car pace, but Max’s ability to harness that pace, even when starting near the back, shows the mark of a true champion. Today was about more than speed; it was about mental strength, adaptability, and pure racing instinct.”
As Verstappen edges ever closer to his next championship title, Horner’s praise underscores a broader consensus in the F1 community: Max Verstappen’s Sao Paulo GP victory was not just a win, but a defining moment in the modern era of Formula 1.
