Max Verstappen 'very upset' at Brazilian Grand Prix as Dutchman reacts to epic win

admits he was "very upset" just hours before that sees him put one hand on a fourth successive F1 drivers' title.

Courtesy of Lando Norris' disaster from pole, the Dutchman has now opened a gap of more than 60 points over the McLaren driver after ending a 10-race winless streak.

With just three to go of 2024 - Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi - Norris, who ended sixth after a late spin when running in fourth, needs some miraculous fortune in order to dethrone Verstappen.

The three-time world champion had started back in 17th in Interlagos after a hectic qualifying session that had to be rescheduled to early on Sunday morning.

While the wet-weather race was just as chaotic, with Red Bull benefitting from a red flag after Franco Colapinto's crash, Verstappen produced a historic performance to finish 19 seconds clear of the competition.

Reflecting on his first win since the Spanish Grand Prix on June 23, Verstappen told Sky Sports F1: "It's definitely an emotional win. This morning I was very upset and my emotions have been going from left to right today.

"I surprised myself today to win here to be honest. We had a really good start, we stayed out of trouble and made good overtakes. We were fast and we made the right calls with the red flag to stay out.

"After that suddenly the rain came down and it was undriveable even on a wet tyre. The calls the team made, they are super calm and amazing in helping me from the pitwall, making the right decisions. In races like this it's just massive to have that.

"I never thought I would win today. I had a good feeling that I could come forward. I feel comfortable [in the rain]. From a young age I've been driving a lot in the wet with my dad and my best friends, we've been practicing a lot of different scenarios.

"Naturally that makes you comfortable in these conditions. On the other hand the car still needs to work and it gave me confidence today. I was incredibly pleased with this result. It's been an unbelievable result for us."

Asked if he was relieved with the win because of the impact it has on the title race, Verstappen added: "Relief? I was confident that we could do a good job [in the Drivers' Championship]. But this has been much better than anyone could expect today."

Norris said to F1 TV: "You can change your tyres under the red flag - that's what the others did. It's just unlucky. Unfortunate. Sometimes it just goes your way. Nothing we did wrong, I don't care what people say. Staying out was not the right thing to do.

"It shouldn't have been red-flagged but there was the crash that caused the red. That's just life sometimes. You take a gamble (not pitting before the red flag) and it paid off for them, it's not talent, it's just luck. Just a bit unlucky [for us].

"I made a couple of mistakes at the end. I had cars on my left and right, I locked the rears, I went off, I lost two positions. a little bit unfortunate, just my own fault.

"Not a perfect race from me. No matter what fourth was the best anyone could do today of the people who boxed and didn't get lucky."