Brazil Grand Prix: Mercedes’ George Russell wins maiden F1 GP as Daniel Ricciardo crashes out
After a chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix, won by George Russell, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez has told of his ‘big disappointment’ in the actions of teammate Max Verstappen.
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There’s trouble in paradise at Red Bull after world champion Max Verstappen defied team orders to hand his place to teammate Sergio Perez, undermining the latter’s battle for second in the drivers’ championship.
Verstappen was told to let Perez pass on the final lap of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Monday but ignored the directive and crossed the line in sixth, with his teammate consigned to seventh.
Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari, bringing him level with Perez on points ahead of the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The two drivers and team boss Christian Horner were seen in animated discussion after the race, with Perez later telling Sky Sports he was “really surprised” by his teammate’s decision.
“I was told to let him (Verstappen) by (and) that I was going to get back the position,” Perez explained.
“No idea. Maybe you should ask him about it. But yeah, nothing to say really. After all I’ve done for him it’s a big disappointment.
“I have no idea. I’m really surprised.”
Perez has looked the consummate professional teammate since joining Red Bull to partner Verstappen at the start of 2021.
His epic battle with Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi last season held the Mercedes up long enough to get Verstappen back into the fight, in a race the Dutchman ultimately won to clinch his maiden Formula 1 world championship.
When pressed by Horner on the team radio after the race as to why he did not concede the place to Perez, Verstappen replied: “I gave my reasons and I stand by it”. The Dutchman doubled down on that after the race.
“I have my reasons for that. We just discussed that, we sat together and talked about it,” he told Sky Sports.
“He’s tied (with Leclerc) it’s not the end of the world, it’s about who finishes ahead (in Abu Dhabi) anyway. If he needs the help I’ll be there but it’s good, we’ve talked about it now and basically cleared everything that was there (about) why I didn’t do it.”
Horner said the team had “shaken hands” over the issue and the focus was now on securing the team’s first ever championship one-two in Abu Dhabi.
“We work as a team, we race as a team and our objective and priority is to see if we can get Checo to finish runner-up in the championship,” he said.
“It’s something we’ve never achieved as a team before and Max has given his commitment as well.
“It’s a straight fight between Checo and Charles and if Max can help in any way, he will do.
“Checo has done a phenomenal job all year and he deserves that second place and as a team we will do our very best to achieve that in Abu Dhabi.”
Ricciardo disaster as Russell wins chaotic Brazil GP
George Russell capped a perfect weekend by winning his maiden Formula 1 Grand Prix, as Mercedes went one-two at Interlagos to heap the pressure on Ferrari in the race for second in the constructors’ championship.
Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo’s penultimate race for McLaren – and perhaps ever – lasted just one lap as the Australian crashed out of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Monday.
Ricciardo tapped the rear of Kevin Magnussen’s Haas at turn eight, sending the Danish driver into a spin that ended with him crashing back into the McLaren and finishing the race of both drivers on the opening lap.
It was the first of three significant incidents in the early throes of the race in Brazil, with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton coming together at the ensuing safety car restart and Charles Leclerc sent into the wall by Lando Norris soon after.
Starting on pole having won Sunday’s sprint race, Russell avoided the early carnage and led from start to finish in Brazil – seeing off teammate Hamilton’s late challenge to mark a memorable maiden win in Formula 1.
“What an amazing feeling – just a huge thank you to the whole team for making this possible. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster this season,” Russell said.
“I felt in control. Lewis was super-fast and when I saw the safety car I thought, ‘oh Jesus, this is going to be a really difficult ending’. He put me under so much pressure but I’m just so happy to come away with the victory.”
Norris’ day ended on lap 55 when his car rolled to a stop with an electrical issue, bringing out another safety car and Hamilton to the rear of teammate Russell for an explosive 10 laps of racing between the two Mercedes.
While Russell and Hamilton duked it out at the front of the queue Leclerc’s salvage job continued, the Monegasque driver dragging himself through the field and into fourth behind teammate Carlos Sainz.
Sergio Perez tumbled down the order after the safety car restart, passed by both Ferraris, the Alpine of Fernando Alonso and his Red Bull teammate Verstappen – who was told to hand the position back to Perez but refused.
“I told you last time you guys, don’t ask that of me. I gave you my reasons,” snapped Verstappen over the radio when questioned by the garage.
With Perez consigned to seventh, he now sits level on 270 points with Leclerc in the battle for second in the drivers’ championship ahead of the final race in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Perez would have retained second had Verstappen handed his teammate the position back; now he must outplace Leclerc in Abu Dhabi to ensure a Red Bull one-two in 2022.
Mercedes’ one-two in Sao Paulo moved them within 19 points of Ferrari in the battle for second in the constructors’ championship, setting the stage for a thrilling season finish.
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