Red Bull team principal Christian Horner lauded Max Verstappen for producing "one of the best drives I've seen in Formula One" at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Although the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg came home first and second on Sunday, the Briton's victory ensuring the battle for the drivers' championship will go down to the final race, it was Verstappen who undoubtedly delivered the most eye-catching display to take third at a sodden Interlagos.

Having recovered from a huge scare on lap 39, when he locked all four wheels before somehow regaining control of his car, the teenager slumped out of the points when a decision to switch to intermediate tyres backfired and necessitated another pit stop.

However, Verstappen nevertheless claimed an unlikely place on the podium thanks to a host of daring overtaking manoeuvres in the closing laps.

Horner told Sky Sports: "He was absolutely fearless in pretty horrific conditions. It was an amazing drive and he deserved that podium and the reaction from the crowd. It is one of the best drives I've seen in Formula One."

Verstappen's crowd-pleasing surge through the field also impressed his father and ex-F1 driver Jos, who added: "I have never seen something like this; he has surprised even me. I have seen many races he did, but today it was incredible. It is what we want to see more of in F1."

Offering his own thoughts, Verstappen junior said: "It was an incredible race. To come back on to the podium is, of course, amazing."

When it was put to the 19-year-old that he looked to be driving on a different track to his rivals, he responded with a grin: "Well, I couldn't see when I was straight behind them so I had to take another line."