Max Verstappen Reflects On Race 'He'll Never Forget' After Prestigious Award

Max Verstappen's stunning victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix, overcoming a 17th-place start and wet conditions, earned him the "Moment of the Year" award at the Autosport Awards.

Nov 23, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Oracle Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) celebrates his championship victory following the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Max Verstappen's remarkable drive at the Brazilian Grand Prix earned him the "Moment of the Year" award at the Autosport Awards.

While Verstappen couldn't accept the award in person, his Red Bull race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, stepped in for him.

Verstappen's performance in Brazil was a high point in what was a tough year for Red Bull. Facing the challenge of starting in 17th place and racing in wet conditions, he had an incredible drive to secure victory. The Dutchman went on to secure his fourth championship title in Las Vegas.

Reflecting on the win, Verstappen explained during the Autosport Awards, at which F1 on SI was present:

"Thank you very much to all the readers for voting for me for the moment of the year. The Sunday in Brazil was a very up-and-down rollercoaster of emotions. After qualifying, of course, we were all very upset, but then I think the race was something that I'll never forget.

"As always, Brazil is an amazing venue, but then, of course, when it starts raining, it can get very hectic, and I think, again, as a team, we made the right calls at the right time. We stayed calm, I stayed calm, and to win it from 17th on the grid will be something that I'll remember for a very long time as well in my career. It was also one of my favourite moments, so thank you very much."

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The Autosport Awards is an annual celebration that acknowledges achievements in motorsports, and this marked Verstappen's fourth such accolade.

Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s race engineer, accepted the award on his behalf. He explained:

"This race came at a time of year when we were having to work extremely hard for everything that we could manage.

"I don't think Max had won a race since the  earlier that summer. And to say he was slightly aggrieved with the outcome of qualifying on Sunday morning is an understatement. There's plenty of online evidence for that if you don't believe me, but that's not suitable for this evening. But it was amazing for him to pull out a drive such as that."

For the latest F1 news, head over to F1 on SI.

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