Verstappen masters wet and wild race in Brazil, dampening Norris' title hopes as Alpine land shock double podium

Through the mist and spray of a saturated Grand Prix in Sao Paulo, reigning champion Max Verstappen reasserted his superiority with a sensational win in Brazil, dashing Lando Norris' hopes of his first title in the process. Behind Verstappen sat both Alpine drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who made a shock appearance on the podium. Outside of the race action, Lewis Hamilton stole the show with a stunning drive in Senna's MP4/5B, paying tribute to the late Brazilian legend. Here are all the highlights and what we learnt from the race in Sao Paulo.

Verstappen back on top as he closes in on drivers' title 

Slicing through the surface water in style, Max Verstappen pulled off one of his greatest career drives in Sao Paolo over the weekend.
The reigning champion rose to the occasion after a delayed qualifying session on Sunday morning left him P17 on the starting grid. After Lance Stroll's crash in qualifying brought out the red flag, Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez dropped out of Q2, with Verstappen also faced with a five-place grid drop for fitting a new internal combustion engine.

Fueled by frustration, Verstappen set about regaining the ground he'd lost, climbing to P11 by the end of the first lap, before making it to P2 behind Alpine's Esteban Ocon before the race was red-flagged on Lap 32.

By lap 43, Verstappen was in the lead, where he set about opening up a 19.477s gap over the French driver, despite the wet conditions, with 26 laps remaining.

"With qualifying, being really unlucky with that red flag and starting P17, I knew that it was going to be a very tough race," said Verstappen after the race.

"We made all the right calls again, stayed calm, and executed when we needed to, so incredibly happy with today. Honestly, it's crazy. I never expected to go from P17 to P1. I was hoping for good points, but this is absolutely crazy."

With another win to his name - his first in 10 races, since Spain in June - Verstappen increases the gap between him and closest rival Lando Norris to 62 points as the season nears its conclusion.

"I'm very happy, but still three tough races [to go], so we just need to stay calm and make no mistakes," said Verstappen.

Norris' title hopes slip away in Sao Paulo

On the other side of the drivers' title fight was McLaren's Lando Norris. Until Brazil, the Brit's chance of securing his first drivers' title was looking good, capitalising on Verstappen's fall from dominance.

But Sao Paolo changed it all. With the gap widened to 62 points now between him and Verstappen, all the Dutchman needs to do is keep 60 points between him and Norris to secure his fourth title in Las Vegas.

Despite lining up on Pole - 16 places ahead of his main rival - Norris was unable to match Verstappen's dominant performance in the rain. Added to that, the Brit was hampered by a poorly-timed pit stop as the virtual safety car was coming to an end, and by going off at Descida do Lago.

"It's not talent, it's just luck. [We were] a bit unlucky, that's all," reasoned Norris after finishing sixth overall.

"Yeah, I still made a couple of mistakes in the end. I had cars on my left and my right, I locked the rears, I went off, I lost two positions.

"A little bit unfortunate there, just my own fault, so not a perfect race for me.

"But I think no matter what, fourth was the best anyone could do today of the people who boxed and didn't get lucky, and otherwise [we'll] just keep our heads down."

Shock double podium for Alpine 

Few would have listed the two Alpine drivers - Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly - as prime candidates for a podium before the weekend in Brazil. Just one week ago, the team was celebrating the single point that Pierre Gasly had scored in Mexico. In Sao Paolo, the team found themselves celebrating a rare double podium that saw the French squad scoop 33 points.

"I'm absolutely buzzing right now! I'm just so proud of the team," said Gasly after the race. "To overcome such a tough season… it would have been too easy to give up but we never gave up and here we are. Both cars P2 and P3, a lot of points for the team and everyone should be very proud today."

Before Brazil, Alpine was ninth in the constructors' standings with just 16 points to its name and was yet to complete a lap in the top five of a Grand Prix. After the race in Sao Paolo, the team has leapfrogged to sixth in the constructors' standings, ahead of teams like Haas and RB.

"No one believed it until the end – two cars on the podium, I don't think anyone would have got that on their bingo card ahead of this season. It's just fantastic," added Gasly.

Taking advantage of the mixed conditions during qualifying, Ocon landed P4 on the starting grid, while Gasly was back in P13. With Alpine's strategy seeing both drivers pit under the red flag brought out by Franco Colapinto, both Gasly and Ocon were essentially granted a free tyre change. Beyond that, both driver skill and their car's ability to master the wet conditions saw Alpine thrive in Brazil.

"Someone very important to all of us said a long time ago that in the rain, the cars are almost equal. That phrase didn't age at all, and I'm very happy to be today on the podium," said Ocon after the race.

"I think it's been awesome, and the support I receive here from all the Brazilian fans is incredible. I can't thank everyone enough.

"The car was extremely difficult in the dry. I felt that ease when it started to rain this morning, and last night I really wanted to get some laps in the rain. I really love it here when it rains. Today has brought a special race for us."

SEE ALSO: HOW ALPINE'S SURPRISE DOUBLE PODIUM SHAKES UP THE ORDER

Hamilton steals the show in stunning Senna tribute drive

While Lewis Hamilton's current racing record might not match up to what the seven-time World Champion is used to, his latest non-race outing at Interlagos looked to make up for it.

Handed the keys to Senna's V10-engined MP4/5B, Hamilton lapped the car around Senna's home track, pulling over at one point to take a Brazilian flag from a marshal as a homage to Senna's emotional breakthrough victory at the track in 1991.

"It's very, very emotional, naturally," said Hamilton after the event. "I was just revisiting my childhood as I was watching [Ayrton] race here as a kid.

"Hearing that sound and… watching him drive here, winning that race, I just couldn't believe that I just had that chance to do that, and it was really the greatest honour of my career.

"To do it here in front of this beautiful crowd here in Brazil, who stood out in the rain all day yesterday, and then have been here since 4am or 3am this morning… A very, very special day and I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who made this happen."

The tribute drive added to his fond memories of Brazil, with Hamilton also securing his maiden title here in 2008, before being named an honorary citizen of the country in 2022.