Max Verstappen wins Brazilian Grand Prix, Perez distances from Hamilton in fight for runner-up

Max Verstappen won the Brazilian Grand Prix, with Sergio Perez of Red Bull finishing fourth and nearly taking the podium position from Fernando Alonso. Lando Norris of McLaren was second, while Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes was fifth

Three-time champion Max Verstappen led from the start and won the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Sergio Perez of Red Bull finished in fourth place, distancing himself from Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in one of the few competitions left this season — a position for runner-up.

Perez nearly took the podium position from third-place Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, but the Spaniard saw the checkered flag 0.053 seconds before the Mexican.

The two raced for the position in the three final laps of the race, with the Red Bull driver overtaking Alonso once and then losing the position.

“For me, it was like 30 laps,” Alonso said after being chased by Perez. “I had the pressure from Checo but when he passed me two laps to the end, I thought. Okay, this is gone, the podium is not possible.' Then he braked a bit late into turn 1.” McLaren's Lando Norris was second at Interlagos.

Perez will leave South America 32 points ahead of Hamilton with two races left — Las Vegas on Nov. 19 and Abu Dhabi a week later. His teammate and champion Verstappen said later at a press conference it is not up to him to help his fellow Red Bull driver secure the runner-up position, though.

“It shouldn't always be on me to get the points,” the Dutchman said.