Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen’s victory in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix was “one of the great drives in Formula 1”.

Verstappen started 17th on the grid and worked his way to the front of the field to win by nearly 20 seconds ahead of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. The lowly grid slot was partly due to a power unit penalty but largely down to bad luck when a red flag came out in qualifying on Sunday morning, and Horner says the way Verstappen channeled his frustration was particularly impressive.

“You know when to put an arm around him, but he’s not that kind of driver,” Horner said. “He works it out for himself. His mental resilience is huge, and that’s part of the strength that he has. 

“But you can see how much it meant to him. I don’t think I’ve seen him that animated on a podium for… I can’t remember the last time, so it meant a huge amount to him. And I really believe that we’ve witnessed one of the great drives in Formula 1.”

The start was crucial to Verstappen’s progress as he pulled a stunning move around the outside of Turn 3 to overtake two cars, and then dove to the inside of Lewis Hamilton into Turn 1 to make it six places gained a lap later.

“It was an emotional rollercoaster because we knew we had a good car. I mean, [in the Sprint] the car was quick. And to finish third, then lose it with a VSC, but to be able to follow that closely around here in the Sprint race, we knew that we got good pace.

Quickest in Q1, and then in Q2 obviously, the way things played out, we were just very unlucky. And so then, having elected to take the five-place penalty as well with the engine, you’re on the penultimate row of the grid, P17. So, very quickly you have to brush yourself down and focus on the race ahead.

“Max’s mental strength and attitude to deal with that is outstanding. And I thought his start was electric. And that first lap was up there with Donington 93’, around the outside of Turn 3. I think he passed, what, six cars on the first lap? And then he was the only car that was really making progress, being able to pick cars up so late on the brakes into Turn 1.

“Whether it was with Lewis, with Oscar Piastri, and then obviously at the restart with Esteban [Ocon]. And then he just controlled the race and pulled away with ease at sometimes a second a lap. So, on a pretty dreary day, he shone pretty brightly.”