The scene was set under the dark skies of the Interlagos Circut in Sao Paulo. Lando Norris was on pole; Max Verstappen was 16 places behind. With 44 points between the championship contenders, this was the day McLaren had been waiting for. This was the day of the much-needed points swing in the drivers’ championship. This was the day Norris’ challenge launched into reality.
But what you need to know about the highly-charged, fired-up version of Verstappen is that – with his back against the wall at the back of the grid – he thrives in such circumstances. A figure of immense anger in the morning after some misfortune in qualifying, following a 20-second penalty a week earlier in Mexico, he had a point to prove. To his rivals. To the “British press”. But perhaps most of all, to himself.
