Rain could help Max Verstappen challenge in Brazil

Brazilian Grand Prix
Sky Sports F1, 5.10pm Sunday

Only one F1 race this season has been affected by rain but a wet race is forecast for this evening's Brazilian Grand Prix.

July's German Grand Prix saw a late rain shower which changed the complexion of the championship, as Sebastian Vettel crashed out of the lead on the wet track.

However, the timing and duration of the downpour meant it was more an exercise in judging when to switch to rain tyres and back to slicks again than driving in the wet, so it isn't a reliable wet-weather formguide.

Top tip
Max Verstappen 16-1

Young Dutchman Max Verstappen holds the all-time record for most wins without having set a pole position after his fifth career victory in Mexico last time.

That stat says less about Verstappen's raw pace than about the characteristics of the Red Bull cars he has been driving - short on power but able to excel when conditions demand more than just grunt.

He won in Austria when tyres were a bigger factor than engines, and in Mexico where the altitude acts to level engine performance to a degree.

Verstappen has put in some awesome displays in wet races, including at Interlagos in 2016 when he stormed through the field late on to finish third.

The youngster was half a second off the pace in qualifying in the dry but topped the times in first practice and could well be able to challenge for victory if the weather forecast is correct.

Verstappen has four podiums in the last five races - three of them top-two finishes - and missed out on the rostrum only in Russia where he started 19th.

Other markets
Esteban Ocon points finish 6-4

It's looking increasing likely that the talented Esteban Ocon may be out of a drive for next year but the young Frenchman can continue to advertise his ability in the final two races.

Ocon has some useful wet-weather form in the book, including when he qualified his Force India third on the grid in Belgium this year.

A five-place grid drop for a gearbox change sees Ocon start the race 18th, but there are opportunities to make up places at Interlagos, particularly in the wet, and it's worth a stab at the odds that he is able to recover to a top-ten finish.

Recommendations
M Verstappen
1pt each-way 16-1 Hills
E Ocon points finish
1pt 6-4 Betfair, Paddy Power

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