Verstapen had to overcome an engine change penalty putting him P17 on the grid in Sao Paulo, but he thrived in the wet conditions and flew through the field, benefitting from a red flag to emerge as the winner.
With closest championship rival Lando Norris slumping to P6 after starting from the pole, the 2024 title seems all but decided in Verstappen’s favour, his fourth in a row.
There are just three races remaining on this year’s calendar, and the championship could be mathematically sealed in Las Vegas in two weeks time.
Red Bull team principal Horner said that Verstappenm’s win last week had been a “big step” toward confirming the 27-year-old’s status within the sport, putting him along side the likes of Michael Schumacher.
“If he goes on to achieve that fourth title, which hopefully he’s taken a big step to now, then you have to start considering him amongst some of the greats in the sport,” Horner told Talksport this week.
“I think he’s driving at such an incredible level as he’s continually demonstrated,” Horner added. “He’s great to work with when you put him in the car, he gives you everything.
“And he’s still got that hunger and passion, that’s great to witness.”
Verstappen’s performance last Sunday at Interlagos has been hailed as “one of the greatest performances in F1 history”, and it’s a view that is hard to dispute.
“I think that that was one of his best ever drives,” Horner agreed. “To go from 17th in those conditions to winning the Grand Prix was exceptional.
“Right up there with his very best, right up there,” he insisted.
“When you talk about some of the great drives we’ve seen over the years from some of the big names – sort of Senna Donnington ’93 springs to mind – [last week] in my mind was right up there.”
To stay in mathematical contention for the title, Norris needs to be within 60 points of Verstappen after Vegas. There are a maximum of 26 points per weekend (including a bonus point for pole), and Qatar also featuring a sprint race.
However it’s not all sunshine and roses for the team. With Red Bull dropping behind McLaren and Ferrari in the constructors championship, Verstappen could be just the second F1 world champion whose team fails to win the team title on more than one occasion.
Verstappen’s first title in 2020 was matched by a Mercedes victory in the constructors battle, while Nelson Piquet’s 1981 and 1983 titles didn’t bring the same success for Brabham and went instead to Williams and Ferrari respectively.
But a ‘split’ championship is hardly anything new. The very first time a team title was awarded was in 1958 when Ferrari driver Mike Hawthorn took the title but the team title went to Vanwall led by Stirling Moss.
This time the disparity is due to Sergio Perez failing to perform to expectations, with rumours rife that he will be dropped by the team at the end of the year and current RB driver Liam Lawson tipped to take over in 2025.
