Verstappen's 2016 Interlagos charge and the São Paulo pattern

Ten years on from his 2016 São Paulo Grand Prix, Max Verstappen's wet-weather recovery at Interlagos is being recalled as a landmark drive. Starting fourth, the 19-year-old was dropped to outside the top ten after Red Bull's intermediate tyre gamble failed, before recovering from P16 to third and setting the fastest lap, finishing behind only the two Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner called it one of the best drives he had seen in Formula One, while Mercedes figures including Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff also praised the performance. Verstappen's Interlagos recoveries have continued since, with a climb from P17 to win in 2024, a charge from the pit lane to third in 2025, and a recovery from P21 to second behind Lando Norris at the most recent race.