Verstappen's Wet-Weather Mastery at Interlagos

As the Formula 1 circus rolls into the iconic Interlagos circuit for the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix on November 7-9, Mother Nature is threatening to throw a curveball – or more accurately, a deluge.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Long-range forecasts paint a soggy picture for the race weekend: showers on Friday (58% chance), steady rain on Saturday’s sprint (60%), and a pattern of persistent wet conditions lingering into Sunday’s main event.

Interlagos, with its elevation changes, tight corners, and history of biblical downpours, has long been a great equalizer. And in the rain, few drivers command the track like Max Verstappen. With the Dutchman trailing McLaren’s Lando Norris by 36 points in the Drivers’ Championship, this could be the moment the Red Bull ace reignites his title bid against the papaya duo of Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri.

The Stakes: McLaren’s Near-Perfect Harmony, Verstappen’s Shadow

Heading into round 21 of the 2025 season, McLaren is riding high – literally. Norris leads the standings with 357 points, just one ahead of Piastri’s 356, while Verstappen sits third on 321. The British-Australian pairing has turned the Woking squad into a Constructors’ juggernaut, their MCL39 cars excelling on twisty tracks like Interlagos. But Verstappen, the three-time world champion, isn’t one to fade quietly. A 36-point deficit with potentially three races remaining (Qatar and Abu Dhabi on the horizon, plus a possible Vegas double-header) is bridgeable—especially if the heavens open.

Interlagos has been kind to chaos before. Remember 2016? A teenage Verstappen, then with Red Bull, carved through a monsoon from 16th on the grid to a stunning second place, passing cars like they were standing still in his onboard footage – a drive still hailed as one of F1’s wet-weather masterpieces. Fast-forward to 2024, and he did it again: starting from the back after a qualifying nightmare, Verstappen sliced through the field in pouring rain to claim victory, a performance so dominant it all but sealed his fourth title. His RB21 might not have the outright pace of McLaren’s rocket right now, but in the wet, Verstappen’s car control and tire management turn him into a one-man advantage.

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 03, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

Verstappen lives rent-free in their heads

The McLaren Menace: Norris and Piastri’s Wet-Weather Report Cards

McLaren’s title protagonists aren’t wet-weather rookies, though. Norris, the pole-sitter in Mexico last weekend, has shown flashes of brilliance in the damp. Just this July, he mastered a treacherous Silverstone downpour to win the British Grand Prix, edging out Piastri in a dramatic duel that saw the Aussie penalized post-race. Norris thrives on precision, and his ability to nurse intermediates through evolving conditions could keep him in the fight. But Interlagos’ Senna S and unpredictable spray? That’s where Verstappen’s raw aggression often shines.

Piastri, the quiet assassin of the grid, has been McLaren’s metronome this year, but rain has exposed cracks. In Brazil last season, he voiced frustrations over “dangerous” visibility and Pirelli’s wet tires, struggling to match the leaders as aquaplaning claimed victims. Earlier this year in Melbourne, he drove a near-flawless wet stint but spun under pressure, costing him a podium – a reminder that while his speed is undeniable, his wet composure is still evolving compared to Verstappen’s veteran poise.

Odds on the Line: Even Money, But Rain Tips the Scales

Bookmakers see a nail-biter. Norris and Verstappen are joint-favorites at around 7/4 (2.75 decimal) to win on Sunday, with Piastri trailing at 9/2 (5.5). Some sportsbooks even have them co-equal at +160 (2.6), reflecting McLaren’s form but acknowledging Verstappen’s Interlagos affinity. In dry conditions, Norris’ qualifying edge might hold sway, but factor in the forecast’s 60%+ rain risk, and the odds implicitly shift toward the Red Bull. Historical data backs it: Verstappen boasts a 40% win rate in wet races since 2021, versus Norris’ 20% and Piastri’s single podium.

If Verstappen converts pole (or even a mid-grid start) into victory and Norris crashes out, he nets 25 points, slashing Norris’ lead to 11. Piastri, meanwhile, lurks as the dark horse – a sprint win on Saturday could flip the intra-team dynamic, but a Verstappen masterclass would underscore McLaren’s vulnerability.

Defining Moment or Déjà Vu?

Is this Interlagos the championship’s pivot? Absolutely. Verstappen has clawed back bigger gaps before – his 2021 title charge started with a Brazil wet win. For Norris, a home-soil (well, adopted) triumph would be poetic, burying the ghosts of his 2024 near-misses. Piastri? A strong showing cements him as heir apparent, but falter in the flood, and the whispers grow louder.

As the clouds gather over São Paulo, one thing’s clear: in F1, rain doesn’t just level the field – it crowns kings. Verstappen, the rain whisperer, versus McLaren’s harmonious hunters. Buckle up, Brazil; the storm is just getting started.