Verstappen qualified only 16th after struggling with the performance of his car all weekend, and Red Bull decided to start him from the pit lane so they could fit a new engine and change the set-up of his car in an attempt to improve its pace.
He was up to 13th by lap seven but then had to pit because he picked up a puncture.
The world champion gained time by the stopping under the VSC, but that dropped him to the back again, but he went on a two-stop strategy from there and showed strong pace to climb back up the field.
By lap 51, he was leading after Norris made his final pit stop, and it looked as if Red Bull might leave him out on his medium tyres to try to fend off Norris and then the Mercedes drivers in the closing laps.
Instead, they went on the attack, pitting Verstappen for fresh soft tyres three laps later.
He emerged in fourth place, 5.6 seconds behind Russell, who he closed on quickly and passed for third place with a lovely move around the outside of Turn One on lap 63.
Verstappen then set off after Antonelli, and was with him by lap 67, with four to go, but the Italian novice drove well to keep the Red Bull at bay as the Dutchman’s tyres began to lose their edge.
“To be on the podium from the pit lane I didn’t expect that at all, even with a puncture as well at the beginning of the race,” he said.
“That is why we had to box again, so an incredible result and I’m very happy with that.”
The only question is whether an even more remarkable result was possible.
Had Red Bull committed to an effective medium-medium two-stop, when he had his puncture, and managed his tyres accordingly, rather than making his final stop for softs, could he have held off Norris to win the race?