McLaren will head into this race at Interlagos with fresh memories of last year’s heartbreak still hanging over them. Norris had moved up to second place after a strong performance, before a late red flag allowed Verstappen to seize control and take the win.
The Dutchman was relentless that afternoon, setting what was then a record for single-season victories in what would become his third straight title campaign.
Piastri also felt the consequences that day, spinning off just moments after the restart and costing themself valuable points in the championship battle. The Australian now trails his teammate by 31 points heading into this year’s race in Brazil.
Lando Norris looking to build on win
Norris will be aiming for back-to-back wins this weekend after securing victory in Mexico City. It was his third win of the season and kept him ahead in the title race as we approach the final stretch of races.
The 24-year-old has built some momentum over recent rounds, finishing no lower than second in each of the last three races. But Verstappen has also shown consistent pace, with three straight podiums keeping him within range of the top spot.
Verstappen hasn’t always been dominant around Interlagos. His first few visits saw mixed results, including a tough outing early in his career when he drove an uncompetitive Toro Rosso and another race cut short by gearbox issues at Red Bull.
Andrea Stella knows the risks Verstappen brings if rain hits in Brazil
But Verstappen still needs to be nearly flawless from here on out. The only other driver to manage that kind of sustained excellence was Michael Schumacher.
There may not be a more fitting place for him to continue that push than Brazil, where he’s put together some of his best drives over the years.
“Red Bull left without an answer, wanting to study the data so that this does not repeat in the following races,” she said, speaking after McLaren’s win in Mexico City.
She added: “And McLaren breathed a little because they expected that their lead would suffer, suffer a little more on this Mexico City track for them then to recover in Brazil, in Qatar and in Abu Dhabi also. “So they go to Brazil calmer, but hoping it doesn’t rain. I know that Andrea Stella is hoping a lot that it doesn’t rain, because he knows that the combination Red Bull, Verstappen, Interlagos and rain — he knows what can happen.”
Two of Max Verstappen’s greatest drives of his F1 career have occurred at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
After a very impressive debut year with Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) in 2015, Verstappen emerged as a genuine contender for race wins once he was called up to the front-running Red Bull team midway through the 2016 season.
His first win came in Spain that year, but it was in Brazil where he truly made headlines. At just 19, Verstappen navigated treacherous wet conditions like few others could, earning widespread praise for his composure and skill.
Martin Brundle was full of admiration for Verstappen’s performance that day, which saw him secure a third-place finish. One standout moment came when he overtook Nico Rosberg around the outside of turn three, showcasing remarkable confidence in the rain.
Norris will also recall how Verstappen performed at Interlagos in last year’s title fight when another wet-weather masterclass helped swing momentum back in his favour.
READ MORE: Oscar Piastri told his F1 title hopes are done as confidence in McLaren setup fades
Piastri led much of that race before losing out to McLaren teammate Norris late on, while Verstappen worked their way from 17th on the grid to take victory—a result that proved pivotal down the stretch.
Norris is still searching for calmer weather this time around as Brazil approaches once again.
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