Wet-weather wizardry: why Max Verstappen’s mastery in the rain is a point of difference Premium

Elite athletes showcase exceptional skills in adapting to challenging weather conditions, particularly in motorsport, where wet races test true greatness.

One of the innate charms of watching professional outdoor sport is recognising how highly skilled athletes perform in a wide range of conditions, handling the vagaries of nature.

In cricket or tennis, overcast weather can affect how the ball moves through the air, requiring players to tinker with their technique. It can sometimes throw even the best off their game.

When football, hockey and rugby are played in the rain, the challenge is not markedly dissimilar to normal conditions. However, nothing comes close to motorsport in terms of the extreme adaptation required of an athlete when racing on a wet track.

Over the years, some of the most iconic races or drives in Formula One have occurred in wet/mixed conditions, where the chance of peril is far higher than on regular weekends in the dry.

More often than not, a driver’s most memorable race win or podium finish will invariably be the one achieved in such challenging conditions. These conditions often separate the elite from the merely good or very good.

In 2024, F1 saw a fairly intense title battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris before the former prevailed. A pivotal race in which Verstappen snuffed out a late challenge from Norris came at the Sao Paulo GP, which played out in treacherous conditions.

Starting 17th, the Dutchman charged from the back of the grid to take his eighth win of the year even as Norris went from first to sixth.