The British driver George Russell (Mercedes) won the speed race of the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix, which, in addition to distributing points, set the starting grid for the main race on Sunday’s 21st day.
This is the second ‘pole position’ that George Russell has achieved in Formula 1, after having made his debut at the top of the grid at the Hungarian GP, already this season.
Russell completed the sprint race in 30.11.307 minutes, leaving Spanish Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) in second place with 3.995 seconds, with Britain’s Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) in third position with 4.492.
Dane Kevin Magnussen (Haas), who had started from first place for this shorter race, finished in eighth position.
The Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who started from second place on medium tires, compared to the soft ones of his rivals, managed to take the lead, but ended up succumbing to the attacks of Russell, first, and Carlos Sainz, then.
In the duel with the Spanish Ferrari driver, Verstappen touched the front of his Red Bull to Sainz’s right rear wheel, damaging the front wing.
The already world champion would still lose third place to Lewis Hamilton, choosing not to cede fourth position to his teammate, the Mexican Sérgio Pérez (Red Bull), who had asked the team to change places, as he says he needs it.” points” to hold the second position in the championship.
This was the first time that Max Verstappen had lost a sprint race since they were introduced to the Formula 1 World Championship in 2021. This year the format had already been used at the Emilia Romagna GP and in Austria.
“It was incredible. It’s a demonstration of the progress we’ve made as a team. Tomorrow (Sunday) we’ll go for the win,” Russell stressed.
With these results, Max Verstappen maintains command of the championship -he has already mathematically secured his second championship-, with 421 points, followed by Pérez, with 284.
The Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who was sixth, is third in the championship, with 278 points, followed by Russell, who adds 239.
The main race takes place on Sunday, with 71 laps, which award 25 points to the winner, instead of the eight that are awarded today.
Source: TSF
