Max Verstappen achieved his 17th victory in an outstanding season at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, successfully managing the early challenge from Lando Norris. The Red Bull three-time world champion finished a remarkable 8.277 seconds ahead of McLaren's Norris in front of a vibrant Interlagos circuit. Fernando Alonso secured third place for Aston Martin, narrowly surpassing Sergio Perez by a mere 0.053 seconds in the second Red Bull.
The exciting battle between Alonso and Perez ended with the Spaniard successfully regaining the podium position and successfully defending against the Mexican driver. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll secured a respectable fifth place, followed by Ferrari's Carlos Sainz. Unfortunately, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc experienced a crash on the formation lap. Additionally, Pierre Gasly of Alpine demonstrated a commendable performance.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes displayed great determination and secured eighth place amidst a challenging battle with deteriorating tires. Yuki Tsunoda of Alpha Tauri and Esteban Ocon from the second Alpine closely trailed behind him.
This victory was Verstappen's 52nd career win, which positioned him ahead of Alain Prost, a four-time champion, on the list of all-time winners. Verstappen graciously acknowledged his contentment and credited the flawless team execution, perfectly timed pit-stops, and powerful starts for this achievement.
For Norris, it was his seventh podium finish of the year and the 13th of his career, a record for a driver without a win. He acknowledged Verstappen's impressive performance and stated: "P2 is as good as it gets these days." So, I'm happy with that. Max always had an answer.”
Alonso shared the intense pressure from Perez, saying: “It was like pressure from Checo for 30 laps! When he passed me with two laps to go, I thought the podium was impossible and he disappeared, but I brought him back.”
Following challenging weather conditions earlier in the weekend, the race commenced under more favourable circumstances with Verstappen taking the lead from his 11th pole position of the year. Regrettably, Leclerc's race was abruptly halted due to hydraulic problems, resulting in a collision that prompted the deployment of a red flag.
After a slight delay, the race recommenced, with Verstappen regaining the lead. Norris adeptly fended off Hamilton's attempts, while Alonso cleverly utilized slipstream to execute a crucial overtake. As the race unfolded, it became apparent that Mercedes was encountering challenges, which enabled other drivers to make noteworthy advancements.
Verstappen's strategically timed pit stop on lap 57 greatly contributed to his victory, while Alonso's thrilling performance added to the excitement. This triumphant win further cements Verstappen's remarkable season and positions him among the legendary figures in Formula 1 racing.
Image credits: F1(X)
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