(Sao Paulo) Concluding with an astonishing victory in the most grueling weekend he has ever known, by his own admission, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday and gained ground on his Red Bull rival Max Verstappen in his fight for the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton beat Verstappen even though he started the race in the 10e position on the starting grid because of a penalty, one of the two inflicted on him at the end of the week in Sao Paulo.
Verstappen, winner of the previous edition in 2019, finished in second place and saw his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings reduced to 14 points, with three more races to go. A victory is worth 25 points.
In the constructors’ standings, Mercedes now leads by 11 points over Red Bull.
“Let’s keep pushing,” Hamilton said on team radio. He grabbed a Brazilian flag to celebrate his victory in his car and on the podium, as his idol Ayrton Senna had done.
PHOTO NELSON ALMEIDA, FRANCE-PRESS AGENCY
Max Verstappen (left) and Valtteri Bottas (right) accompanied Lewis Hamilton on the podium.
Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas was third ahead of Sergio Perez (Red Bull). The latter also scored the best lap of the day.
The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz took fifth and sixth places, respectively.
Quebecer Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) did not complete the race.
“After gaining some ground yesterday, I thought we would have a good chance of getting some points today. After a solid start, [Yuki] Tsunoda made contact with me on turn 1. He was driving on the [gommes] tender while I had intermediaries, and at this point [de la course], he was faster. I think his maneuver was hopeless and he was way too optimistic, ”Stroll said.
PHOTO RICARDO MORAES, REUTERS
Max Verstappen managed to take the lead from the start.
“The ignition damaged my car and from there other parts fell out, which meant the pace got worse and we were going backwards. It’s disappointing to have to withdraw [de la course], but this weekend makes me even more determined to finish well in Qatar next weekend. ”
As a first
Verstappen was the leader for most of the race after the first corner, when he passed Bottas, who had earned the lead the day before.
However, Hamilton, who had gone from the 10e in third position in just six laps, took the lead ahead of Verstappen during the 59e ride in front of noisy spectators at Interlagos.
Hamilton finished the race 10 seconds ahead of Verstappen, and said he felt like he had won his first race in front of a cheering crowd.
“I pushed as hard as I could,” said an emotional Hamilton after the 101e victory of his career.
“From the last place on the grid [pour la course qualificative de samedi], then a five spot penalty, I think it’s the toughest weekend I’ve ever had. Things were going against us all the time, but that just goes to show that you should never give up, keep fighting. Never, never stop fighting. ”
Verstappen will also leave Brazil poorer by 50,000 euros (CAN $ 71,810). He was fined after being seen touching the rear wing of Hamilton’s Mercedes on Friday.
“We were lacking a bit of rhythm, but we gave everything and we had fun,” said the Dutchman.
“We still have a good lead in the points, today we limited the damage a bit. In the next few races, we will bounce back. ”
The next race will be in Qatar on November 21, followed by stages in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.
Consult the final ranking