Max Verstappen narrowly avoids crash with Kimi Raikkonen at wet Brazilian Grand Prix
MAX VERSTAPPEN showed off his brilliant reflexes as he swerved to avoid a sliding Kimi Raikkonen at a soaking Brazilian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen avoids Kimi Raikkonen in Brazil Grand Prix
The penultimate race of the season had started behind the safety car with conditions deemed too wet for a full start at Interlagos.
Eventually the cars were allowed to race with wet tires equipped but drivers struggled with spray and standing water on the track.
Raikkonen lost control of his Ferrari on the home straight and careered across the track with Verstappen coming within millimetres of a disastrous collision.
The race was red-flagged shortly afterwards with 21 of 71 laps completed and drivers were told to return to the pits.
The teenager had already shown off his ability in the wet by overtaking the Finn almost as soon as the safety car was removed from the race.
Max Verstappen could have crashed into Kimi Raikkonen but swerved to avoid him
Verstappen launched his Red Bull down the inside of turn one and the 2007 world champion was unable to respond.
The wet conditions were also suited to Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, who needed to finish ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg in order to avoid the German clinching the world title.
Max Verstappen overtook Kimi Raikkonen in the first racing lap of the Grand Prix
Hamilton had already given himself the best possible opportunity by claiming his 11th pole position of the season with a stunning lap in Saturday's qualifying session.
Rosberg arrived in Brazil with a 19-point lead and the knowledge that winning the race would be enough to ensure he would lift his maiden title in Brazil without having to worry about the final race in Abu Dhabi.