Better late than never for Mercedes. For the first time this season, the two Silver Arrows will start from the first two positions on the grid at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, thanks to some fine performances in the sprint race on Saturday 12 November. George Russell was ahead of Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton, but the Ferrari driver will be penalized five places on the grid and therefore gives up his second position to the seven-time world champion. Starting from pole position, Kevin Magnussen could not resist the return of more efficient single-seaters and finished eighth.
Mercedes is sending a strong signal to its competitors. Still in the running for second place in the constructors’ standings against Ferrari, the German team proved to be competitive during this race, one of the finest since the format was introduced last season. The Silver Arrows, with renewed top speed, were able to battle Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari. Starting third, George Russell put the Dutchman and his medium tires under pressure for three laps, before overtaking him on the 15th lap. Lewis Hamilton then took advantage of a damaged wing on the Red Bull to pass in turn. Meanwhile, despite a good start, Kevin Magnussen fell back in the standings to eighth place, which still gave him a point.
“I didn’t expect us to have that much pace, but we showed how much progress we’ve made. It’s great that we’re both on the front row tomorrow, especially as Lewis was eighth party”reacted George Russell, who will start in the lead for the second time this season after the Hungarian Grand Prix, ahead of Hamilton and Verstappen, who benefit from a five-place penalty imposed on Carlos Sainz for an engine change.
SPRINT CLASSIFICATION
George Russell takes a maiden #F1Sprint win!!! #BrazilGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/9BTsiqJkHi
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 12, 2022
On the French side, Esteban Ocon had a stormy race and twice clashed with his teammate at Alpine, Fernando Alonso. He made a bad operation and started 18th, eight places behind his future teammate, Pierre Gasly, tenth.