Jenson Button names the Max Verstappen overtake that made him realise he had to retire from F1

Max Verstappen produced one of the all-time great drives to win the Sao Paulo Grand Prix earlier this month. Verstappen crossed the line 19 seconds clear of the pack despite starting down in 17th place.

A controversially-timed red flag saw Verstappen suffer his first Q2 elimination of the season in the rescheduled Sunday morning qualifying. He then dropped back five further spots due to an engine penalty.

This opened up a huge opportunity for polesitter Lando Norris. 44 points behind Verstappen when the lights went out, he had a chance to ignite the F1 battle.

But in the end, the Red Bull driver’s remarkable victory may have all but settled the contest. He only needs 24 points in the final three rounds to guarantee the title.

If he finishes above Norris in Las Vegas, he will also be confirmed as champion. It’s unclear if Red Bull will have the pace to beat McLaren in dry conditions.

Indeed, Verstappen’s unique skillset came to the fore at a treacherous Interlagos. He sailed through the pack with striking ease, executing a particularly impressive series of moves at turn one from a long way back.

Jenson Button recalls when Max Verstappen passed him like he was ‘stood still’ in Brazil

Verstappen’s fightback reminded many of his performance at the same venue in 2016, his first year at Red Bull. Back then, he only managed to finish third, but that was after gaining 13 places in the final 16 laps.

Speaking on Sky Sports F1 ahead of FP1 at the Las Vegas GP, Jenson Button recalled the F1 paddock’s ‘surprise’ after that display. Verstappen overtook him like he was ‘stood still’.

That was the moment when veteran McLaren star Button realised he had to retire. Verstappen, who had become the sport’s youngest-ever driver in 2015, was only 19 at the time.

“I remember last time Max Verstappen really surprised us all with how skilful he is in those tricky conditions, and it was Brazil 2016,” he said. “It was actually my last Brazilian Grand Prix.

“I normally loved those conditions, and he came past me like I was stood still. That’s when I realised it’s time to leave.”

Max Verstappen laughs as he warns rivals about his wheel-to-wheel tactics

Verstappen’s aggression in wheel-to-wheel combat had been the biggest talking point ahead of the Sao Paulo GP. He earned two 10-second penalties for running Norris off the track twice in the same lap.

But the Dutchman was exceptionally clean in his Brazil charge. In typical fashion, he somehow found more grip than the other 19 drivers, as he showed by setting nine of the 10 fastest laps.

When on the defensive, Verstappen says he won’t let rivals pass on the outside. Norris has suffered from this stance on multiple occasions in 2024.

He may need to learn how to outfox the 27-year-old if he’s to dethrone him next season. Charles Leclerc ‘loves’ racing Verstappen, according to Peter Windsor, because he knows how to counter his tricks.