Lewis Hamilton chases Max Verstappen to clinch F1 win in Brazil

Article content

SAO PAULO – Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton chased after Max Verstappen to win the Sao Paulo Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday and slashed his Red Bull rival’s lead in Formula One to 14 points in one of the biggest races. of his career.

Article content

Verstappen finished second with Valtteri Bottas third for Mercedes after a controversial roller coaster weekend in Brazil.

“I don’t remember another weekend like this,” said Hamilton, his dream of a record eighth title with three races remaining. “It’s pretty overwhelming, to be honest.”

“This has probably been one of the best weekends, if not the best, that I have experienced since … probably in my entire career.”

The Briton was fastest in Friday’s qualifying at Interlagos for Saturday’s sprint that set up Sunday’s grid, then descended to the rear of the field after his car’s rear wing failed a technical inspection.

He went from 20th to 5th on Saturday, and returned to 10th on Sunday’s grid after an engine penalty, but was hungry for much more.

Article content

The rest was history, as the 36-year-old scored his third victory at Interlagos and set a record for victory in Brazil from the lowest position on the grid, surpassing the victory of Italian Giancarlo Fisichella in 2003 from eighth place.

“Lewis, this is how you get over a 20-place disqualification,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told him over the radio after he took the checkered flag in front of a cheering crowd.

“It was actually 25, but you’re right,” Hamilton replied.

The victory was Hamilton’s sixth of the season and the 101st of his career, extending the record.

“That was one of the best units I have seen in F1. By anyone. Absolutely amazing, ”commented 1996 world champion Damon Hill on Twitter.

“I feel like Lewis was in his own league today,” Bottas said.

Article content

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez finished fourth, pitting at the end on fresh tires to set the fastest lap and deny Hamilton a precious bonus point.

Mercedes fell 11 points away from Red Bull in the constructors’ standings.

WHEEL TO WHEEL

Bottas had started from pole, but lost to Verstappen in the first corner and then to Pérez, while Hamilton was already in seventh position.

The reigning champion was third on lap five, and Bottas let it pass as expected.

The 3.5-second gap with Perez was closed a lap later when the safety car deployed after a collision between AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll that left debris scattered across the track.

Pérez was then passed on lap 18, after an additional period in the virtual safety car when the front wing of Mick Schumacher’s Haas came off and left more debris.

Article content

Then the game began, with Hamilton pitting against Verstappen and closing the gap.

The 24-year-old Dutchman was determined never to be undercut again and jumped first for the second stop on lap 41 with Hamilton arriving three laps later and then closing in with the advantage of cooler tires and a newer engine.

The two fought wheel to wheel on lap 48, Verstappen defending hard.

Hamilton went ahead, but Verstappen closed it and both cars were opened, Mercedes complained that her man was unfairly pushed, and the stewards ultimately decided not to take further action.

Hamilton tried again before making the play stand for the third time as the marshals waved a black and white flag at Verstappen for weaving down the straight, generating a sarcastic response: “Yeah, perfect. Say hello”.

Article content

GOOD BATTLE

“It was a good battle, but in the end we lost a bit of a rhythm. We gave it our all today, it was a lot of fun, “said Verstappen.

“We still have a good point advantage. Today was a bit of damage limitation on a weekend that was difficult for us. I am sure that in the next races we will recover ”.

Two of the remaining three are new circuits for F1, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, before the final in Abu Dhabi.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fifth and teammate Carlos Sainz sixth.

Pierre Gasly, from AlphaTauri, was seventh, ahead of the alpine pair of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso. Lando Norris took the final point for McLaren despite a puncture on the first lap.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo retired his McLaren after a loss of power.