This archive report was first published on 18 November 2019.
On a dramatic day at the Interlagos circuit, Max Verstappen underlined his potential as a future champion with a dominant win in the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 17, 2019.
Verstappen, 22, seized pole position and led the race from start to finish, twice passing newly-crowned six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in a thrilling contest marked by two safety car interventions.
His third win of the season was a redemption for his disappointment in last year's race, where a late accident ruined his chances of victory.
Verstappen's victory marked the first time a Honda-powered car had achieved a one-two finish since the heyday of Brazilian legend Ayrton Senna.
Frenchman Pierre Gasly finished second for Toro Rosso, just 0.062 seconds ahead of Hamilton, who was later demoted to seventh place following a post-race stewards' investigation.
Hamilton's demotion gifted McLaren's Carlos Sainz his first Formula One podium, subject to several other stewards' inquiries.
"Lewis was very quick," Verstappen said. "So I had to keep pushing all the time. He pitted early so we had to be on top of our pit-stops and we had a good move on him."
Verstappen attributed his decisive second overtake of Hamilton to his superior speed in the rarefied atmosphere of the 700-metre altitude Interlagos circuit.
"I was behind so I was pushing flat out on my out lap," he said. "We knew we had great top speed the whole weekend -- but that was a guess -- and I'm very happy to have got past him!"
Gasly celebrated his first podium in F1 with tears of joy, crediting his Toro Rosso team for providing him with a fantastic car.
Hamilton accepted a five-second penalty and two points on his racing licence for his role in a crash with Thai driver Alexander Albon.
