The reigning Formula One world champion was in unfamiliar territory: Starting seventeenth on the grid, with only two cars behind him (and one in the pit lane), and his title rival, Lando Norris, way, way ahead of him on pole position.

Max Verstappen’s come-from-behind win in the pouring rain at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday didn’t just put him a lot closer to a fourth straight Formula One title.

Max Verstappen said he felt as if he was “driving a jet ski” at Interlagos, so wet were the conditions. It looked more like walking on water.