SAO PAULO :Max Verstappen surprised even himself with a pitlane to podium charge at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, a year on from winning the race from 17th on the grid in another career highlight.

A day after writing off his Formula One title hopes, Red Bull's four-times world champion gave his fans fresh hope - at least for some of the afternoon - with a stirring and spirited fightback at Interlagos.

If victory was a step too far, the Dutch driver had second in his sights before having to settle for third.

A new engine installed in his car, along with a list of changed parts and a return to the setup that had served him so well in Texas last month, meant he had to start from the pitlane rather than his qualifying position of 16th but that was only a temporary setback.

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