Brazil Grand Prix: George Russell and Mercedes win sprint race
Mercedes’ British star George Russell has triumphed amid chaotic scenes at the Brazilian Grand Prix with a number of ‘racing incidents’ set to be investigated.
F1
Don't miss out on the headlines from F1. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Mercedes’ George Russell claimed the first victory of his Formula One career on Saturday when he won a closely-contested sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The 24-year-old Briton, in his 81st Grand Prix weekend, started third on the grid behind maiden pole-sitter Kevin Magnussen of Haas and two-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, but powered to a thrilling triumph in a breathless 24-lap contest.
Carlos Sainz of Ferrari finished second ahead of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes, who faced a post-race investigation into a starting procedure infringement.
Sainz is set to take a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s full Grand Prix race after having an engine change.
RUS 📻: "THAT'S HOW WE ROLL BABY"
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 12, 2022
Mega stuff, @GeorgeRussell63! 🤩#BrazilGP#F1@MercedesAMGF1pic.twitter.com/m9ut8Izg7B
That’s a move that could see Hamilton join Russell on the front row of the grid with the sprint result shaping the starting line-up for the penultimate race of the season.
Daniel Ricciardo and Zhou Guanyu were also cited for potential starting procedure infringements. It was announced during the race that all three drivers will be investigated at the end of the race.
Verstappen, who passed Magnussen at the start of lap three, was the only frontrunner on medium tyres and was unable to resist Russell’s pace and then fell back to fourth after a brush with Sainz.
He finished ahead of Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari.
Lando Norris finished seventh for McLaren ahead of Magnussen, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Aston Martin and Pierre Gasly of Alpha Tauri.
“That’s how we roll, baby,” said a delighted Russell on team radio. “That’s how we roll! Very nicely done. Big points for tomorrow - let’s go.” His win was Mercedes’ first success this season.
GAINS AND LOSSES 📈📉
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 12, 2022
Well done to @SchumacherMick on picking up eight places! 👊#BrazilGP#F1Sprintpic.twitter.com/RP0bcziT7S
Russell earned eight points for his win with Sainz taking seven and Hamilton, subject to any penalty, six. “Mega job guys,” said Hamilton. “Congratulations to George - that’s awesome.” The newly-adopted Brazilian citizen added that he was hoping to claim a win on Sunday to preserve his record of a victory in every season of his career.
In warm and dry conditions, Magnussen made a perfect start from his maiden pole position and led for the opening two laps while Verstappen defended against Russell.
The world champion then powered into the lead at start of lap three while behind him Fernando Alonso and Alpine teammate Esteban Ocon battled and collided, the two-time champion pitting after damaging his front wing.
“He pushed me in Turn Four and then finally in the straight,” reported the Spaniard, referring to Ocon as ‘our friend’ in a sarcastic radio message. “Well done.” Verstappen stayed in control, without providing convincing pace, until lap 15 when Russell passed him on the run to Turn Four, after four laps in fierce competition had produced thrilling thrust-and-defend battles between them.
Once out in clean air, Russell demonstrated the potential of his Mercedes as Magnussen fell back to seventh and Hamilton rose to fourth in the second of the ‘silver arrows’.
By lap 20, with four to go, Russell led Sainz, who had fought his way past Verstappen at Turn One a lap earlier, leaving the Dutchman with a damaged front wing, and Hamilton, up to third with a clean pass of the Red Bull.
In an all-action race, the two Aston Martins also had a close brush when Lance Stroll defended hard against Vettel, forcing the four-time champion off the track onto the grass.
“Ok,” muttered Vettel of the incident which led to a 10-second penalty for the Canadian. In his penultimate race, he rediscovered his old spark and raced to ninth as an excited crowd roared their approval.
HAMILTON’S DESPERATE BID TO HAND TEAM COST-OF-LIVING REPRIEVE
- Rebecca Clancy, The Times
Lewis Hamilton is determined to win a first race of the season, because he wants to earn Mercedes staff a bonus payment amid the cost of living crisis.
Hamilton feels this weekend in Brazil represents his best chance of maintaining his record as the only driver in Formula One history to win at least one Grand Prix in every season in which they have competed.
If the seven-times world champion can break his duck either in Sao Paulo or at the final race, in Abu Dhabi, he could help Mercedes overhaul Ferrari and take second place in the constructors’ standings.
Mercedes are 40 points adrift but, if they can overhaul Ferrari, they will claim millions of dollars in extra prize money.
Hamilton, 37, knows how much that would mean to the team, based in Brackley, Northamptonshire, and its employees.
“I know how important finishing second is for the team, and everyone back at the factory, in terms of bonuses, especially at a time when energy prices have gone through the roof and living costs in the UK have skyrocketed,” Hamilton said.
“I can see how impactful and important that is for them, but also how hard we have had to dig to catch up. I know it would be an amazing feeling.
“If I am being realistic, Ferrari have an amazing car — I don’t know what happened last weekend in Mexico — but it is most likely they will be back at the front here.
“So, it will be no easy feat to beat them.
“But if we did, it would be an amazing comeback and it also creates that narrative of sending them into the winter knowing that we mean business.”
Mercedes were woefully uncompetitive at the start of the season and while they have improved throughout the year, they have been unable to beat the dominant Red Bull and Max Verstappen, who have already wrapped up both championships.
Brazil would be a fitting place for the Briton to pick up his first win of the season, having become an honorary citizen of the country this week.
However, he could only qualify eighth on Friday for Saturday’s sprint race, the result of which sets the grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday.
It was Kevin Magnussen who secured a shock pole position for the sprint race in a thrilling qualifying session, heavily affected by rain showers.
Haas executed their strategy perfectly, getting him out first, and he beat Verstappen by 0.203sec. The other Mercedes, of George Russell, was third. The Briton spun, which brought out a red flag as the rain fell and ensured that Haas became the first US-owned team to secure a pole position since 1975.
FERRARI FAILURE HANDS HAAS STUNNING POLE
Callum Dick
Kevin Magnussen’s Haas will start on pole for Sunday’s sprint race at Interlagos after a highly eventful qualifying session in Sao Paulo that featured yet another head scratching strategy call from Ferrari.
With rain looming every driver started the session on the slick tires hoping to bank a quick time before Mother Nature’s intervention. That is except for Charles Leclerc, who was sent out on intermediates in a confusing move from Ferrari that immediately backfired.
Magnussen was first on-track in Q3 and secured provisional pole before George Hamilton brought out the red flag when he spun into the gravel on turn four, leaving Leclerc without a time and stranded in P10.
“Nice. Beautiful. F----ing beautiful,” yelled Leclerc as he was brought back into the pits.
It was a completely different mood in the Haas garage, as it quickly dawned on the team what was unfolding.
“You’re P1 mate. I’m not kidding,” was the radio call to Magnussen after the red flag.
“You’re kidding. You’re f----ing kidding me. I’ve never, ever felt like this in my life,” mused Magnussen in reply.
When Q3 resumed 10 minutes later the rain had begun to fall and the slick tires were no longer an option, leaving Magnussen’s 1:11.674 untouchable on the intermediates and securing the Danish driver his first-ever Formula 1 pole.
“I don’t know what to say,” Magnussen said.
“The team put me out on track at exactly the right moment. We’re on pole, it’s incredible.
“Thank you to Gene Haas and Guenther (Steiner) and the whole team for this opportunity. I got back this year after a year out and it’s just been an amazing journey.”
Max Verstappen will start alongside Magnussen on the front row of the grid, with Russell and Lando Norris behind them.
Magnussen’s pole puts even more pressure on under fire Haas teammate Mick Schumacher, who was bungled out in Q1 and will start at the back of the grid for the sprint race.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo will start P14 in his penultimate Grand Prix for McLaren.
FORMULA ONE DRIVER FACING ‘EMBARRASSING’ BAN
Pierre Gasly said Thursday he hopes to avoid a potential race ban for penalty points after concerted talks with Formula One’s ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA).
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the year, the French driver conceded he was in a difficult position after racking up 10 penalty points – knowing that 12 in a year would mean an automatic ban.
“I’m not going to lie,” Gasly, who will leave Alpha Tauri for Renault next season, told reporters.
“It’s a very unpleasant situation and is quite delicate and, in some ways, quite embarrassing.
“To be standing in a position where I could be banned after the season I have done. I don’t really feel I have been particularly dangerous over these last 12 months — and that would be definitely a harsh penalty.
“But there have been a lot of discussions with the FIA, trying to find a solution because personally, I want to do all of the races. I want to finish the season in the best way I can with AlphaTauri.” Gasly, 26, has picked up penalty points for a range of minor offences this year including speeding under red flags, driving too slowly and distant behind a Safety Car, exceeding track limits, collisions and gaining an advantage when going off the circuit.
He cannot drop any of the points against him, to reduce the total, until May next season, when the 2023 championship will be at least five races old.
In turn, that means that if he avoids further trouble in the two remaining races this season, he will carry his total over when he joins Alpine.
âš ï¸ | Pierre Gasly is just 2 penalty points away from being ruled out of a race.
— Formula World (@Formula_World__) November 8, 2022
If he gets those points before the 2023 Emilia Romagna GP, he will miss a Grand Prix. pic.twitter.com/wRsggP5Ckz
“I want to do all the races in 2023 and get the maximum chances to perform for Alpine and obviously there is a lot at stake because nobody knows what is going to happen in 2023.
“I could end up with an amazing car and be fighting for the world championship, for example, and can’t take the risk to be banned for a race and lose all my hopes.
“I hope we can find a solution ahead of the weekend to avoid ending up in a silly situation where I’ll be banned for a race.” Gasly has scored 23 of Alpha Tauri’s 35 points this year.
“The way the regulation is written at the moment, it’s quite strict on the drivers and quite harsh penalties even though it is not always related to dangerous driving.
“And definitely, the penalties have massive repercussions on the teams’ and drivers’ championships.”
‘I want much more’: Piastri primed after taste of early success
Australian Oscar Piastri has signalled his ambitions for the 2025 season while launching McLaren’s challenger on track at Silverstone with teammate Lando Norris.
Schumacher wife upset over prison sentence
Sentences have been handed down and new details have emerged about the plot to blackmail the family of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher.