F1's best comeback victories after Max Verstappen's Brazilian GP 'masterclass'

Max Verstappen's first lap of Sunday's was so good, his boss compared it to famous 'Lap of the Gods'.

In pouring rain at Derbyshire's Donington Park in 1993, Senna surged from fifth on the grid to take the lead within seconds. On Sunday, in the lost legend's homeland, 30 years on from his fatal crash, moved up six places within the first three corners in similarly soggy conditions from 17th on the grid.

By the first corner of the second lap he was past and into the top 10, on the way to a victory which has put down resistance in the title race. "Masterclass" and "outstanding" were some of the other words Horner used to describe his driver's performance, and it was hard to disagree.

So after one of the all-time great comeback drives, Mirror Sport recalls some of F1's most memorable victories in improbable circumstances.

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Max Verstappen | Brazilian Grand Prix | November 3, 2024

Everything went wrong for the racer in a rare Sunday morning qualifying session. But he channelled his anger about being stranded in 17th, while title challenger Norris was on pole, into a flawless performance.

Verstappen got lucky with the timing of a red flag but he had already completed so many overtakes with confidence and just the right amount of aggression. No-one had won from lower than 10th on the grid at Interlagos before and this victory has all-but secured his fourth F1 title.

Lewis Hamilton | Brazilian Grand Prix | November 14, 2021

What is it about Sao Paulo and comeback wins? The Sprint format helped Hamilton here, back when the result of the shorter race set the grid for the main Grand Prix.

He drove from 20th to fifth in the shorter race and, after another penalty, from 10th to victory to breathe new life into the title race. Of course, it ended in heartbreak for Hamilton and in Abu Dhabi a few weeks later...

Jenson Button | Canadian Grand Prix | June 12, 2011

Sunday's race at Interlagos was chaotic but nothing compared to Montreal victory. He pitted six times, banged wheels with multiple rivals, including team-mate Hamilton, was given a penalty for speeding behind the safety car and, on lap 40, found himself 21st and last.

But Button mastered the fraught conditions to cut back through and overtake on the last lap to win, having led for a total of six corners.

Rubens Barrichello | German Grand Prix | July 30, 2000

When home hero crashed at the first corner, and with team-mate 18th on the grid, must have wished for an early end to the afternoon.

But the Brazilian charged up to third and inherited the lead from the faster McLarens ahead when they reacted to a rain shower. Barrichello ignored his team, did not pit and still had the pace on slicks to secure a remarkable first career F1 win.

Ayrton Senna | Japanese Grand Prix | October 30, 1988

The first and least contentious race in a trilogy of Senna vs Prost duels at Suzuka, the Brazilian lined up on pole but dropped to 14th place after stalling on the grid.

He was already back up to fourth place within just a few minutes and, on lap 27, swept past his McLaren-Honda team-mate and won by more than 13 seconds. With victory, Senna won the first of his three F1 titles.

John Watson | USA Grand Prix West | March 27, 1983

Having qualified 22nd for the final F1 race held in Long Beach, California, one place ahead of team-mate , no-one was looking at Watson or the McLaren-Fords when predicting a winner.

But they finished first and second, helped by half of the field being forced to retire with mechanical faults or after crashes. It remains the lowest grid position from which anyone has ever won an F1 race.