Three-time world champion Max Verstappen led from the start and held on to win the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez finished in fourth place, distancing himself from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in the race to finish second in the drivers’ standings.
A red flag was waved on the second lap, due to an accident involving Haas’s Kevin Magnussen and Williams’ Alex Albon, necessitating a restart of the race.
“I was happy with the weekend,” Perez said. I know, however, that I could have done more if I hadn’t been unlucky during qualifying. [vendredi]. »
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso took third place, just 0.053 seconds ahead of Perez, after a very close battle between the two drivers over the final three laps.
“During the last 30 laps I felt like I was under pressure from Sergio. But when he overtook me two laps from the end, I thought that the chance of a podium was no longer possible. Then he braked a little late in the first corner of the last lap, and I told myself I would take a chance in the fourth corner,” Alonso said.
“It’s a phenomenal result for the whole team. We’ve had some difficulties in the last few races, especially the last two events, so this podium is for everyone at the circuit and for everyone at Silverstone. This shows that we will continue to fight until the last lap, until the last corner. »
McLaren’s Lando Norris finished second at Interlagos.
Starting from third place, Quebecer Lance Stroll finished in fifth position. This is his tenth top 10 of the season and his best performance since his fourth place at the Australian Grand Prix on April 2.
“None of my starts have been great. I had a lot of slippage and very little grip, so I didn’t take the line well. But then we had a lot of rhythm. We were faster than Ferrari, faster than Mercedes, and I felt like we were back where we were at the start of the year,” Stroll analyzed.
“Today’s result gives us the belief that we can fight for points in the last two races. Finally, a big congratulations to the whole team. The last few races have been difficult, but today is a real reward and sends us home with a smile after three weeks on the road. I can’t wait to be in Vegas! »
Perez will leave South America 32 points ahead of Hamilton, with two races remaining: one in Las Vegas on November 18 and the other in Abu Dhabi, a week later.
Perez started the race from ninth place and Hamilton from fifth, after a frustrating qualifying for the Red Bull driver on Friday.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was due to start second, lost control of his car on the formation lap before the start due to an engine problem.
“I’m disappointed, that’s the least I can say,” Leclerc said. The steering wheel and engine were no longer responding. It hurts. »
Verstappen won his 17e victory and has never been out of control of the event.
“The whole race was about tire management,” Verstappen said. “Las Vegas will be new for everyone and there will be many surprises, I’m sure. »