Russell wins in Brazil, Sainz climbs to the podium and great comeback from Alonso

Formula 1 owes a debt to George Russell. He continued his win box to zero since the first time in a Mercedes in Sakhir 2020, when replacing Hamilton he did everything right to achieve the goal of a lifetime, to win his first F1 race. He was moved to tears to see how that dream had eluded him because of the team’s inexplicable mistake in stopping him. He focused his eyes on her jumping Mercedes. He had to wait until 2022 to drive the silver arrow again, as an official Mercedes driver. But the car that was found was no longer the winner of previous years. It shone a light on the possibilities of a car that had so much to improve on and that was only a few years away from Red Bull and Ferrari. But the stars overcame the difficulties to plant themselves in Brazil with a car capable of fighting for victory. And first, George didn’t miss it. He won Saturday’s sprint race and didn’t shake his wrist to win a Brazilian F1 GP which he controlled until a final ‘Safety Car’ put him in suspense. With 11 laps to go, he had to defend himself on the restart against Hamilton, and once again, he nailed it. Lewis didn’t want to put his partner in trouble and acted like a gentleman. He left the victory in the hands of his companion. Now the glory must go to George.

It was the first win for a driver who everyone sees as a champion of the future. A pilot with a star. George won on the day Mercedes made it clear it was back to stay, a strong message ahead of the 2023 title fight.

George Russell prevailed over his teammate Hamilton, where the race was complicated from the start. After an incident between Magnussen and Ricciardo at the start, the ‘Safety Car’ came in until lap 6. And on the restart on lap 7, Russell put his teammate in trouble by heating the tires on the straight still before giving his accelerated. This left the 7-time champion in his underwear, because Verstappen was stuck behind and would attack him at turn 1. The Dutchman did not hesitate, once again face his greatest antagonist, his great rival in 2021 Tried he had it outside 1 and inside 2. Hamilton left no space, closed his layout, and held both. Verstappen had to change his wing and his career was ruined. The strangest thing came later, seeing how Race Direction allowed Verstappen 5″ and not Lewis for said collision. Lewis dropped to 8th position and from there began a superb comeback with very fast.Mercedes was the best car this weekend and helped Hamilton to rebuild and finish 2nd.

Sainz, podium in all races

Carlos Sainz finished 3rd in the F1 Brazilian GP. It might even be better for Carlos. Maybe he had other options. But another stroke of bad luck stopped him from thinking about winning. After the first contact between Norris and Leclerc, with that of Hamilton and Verstappen, the Spaniard ended up in third place at the start of the race with a better strategy: he was the only one at the front with a medium tyre. , with Russell leading and Pérez 2nd with soft tires. He can think big. At least give it a try, although it is well known that Mercedes had a devilish pace this weekend.

However, he quickly found that he couldn’t keep up with Russell and Perez. He had car trouble. A visor shield thrown by another rider was welded to the right rear brake. His strategy failed. And your chances of winning the race, too. He had to quit earlier than planned and completely change his cards. He stopped on lap 19, very early, and had to do a three-stop strategy. His race happened to be in a fight for third position with Pérez. The Spaniard finally benefited through a final virtual ‘Salvation’ which allowed him to gain time in his third stop. That virtual will be a safety vehicle, so the drivers will be reunited.

The race restarted with 11 laps to go with Sainz, on a younger soft rubber, behind Pérez in the fight for third place. The Mexican defended with a lot of claws, until the limit in one of the corners, but Carlos finally caught the Mexican with a great maneuver in turn 4. Pérez would sink from then on. Leclerc, who also had three stops, finished 4th despite Sainz asking Ferrari to give him a podium in anticipation of a battle for second World Cup position with Pérez. And Verstappen should do the same ‘Czech’. However, the change of positions did not take place. Sainz did not let Charles pass as Alonso was close on the Monegasque’s heels and the maneuver could have put the Ferrari podium at risk. Conversely, Verstappen, 6th, could have easily let Pérez pass, but he didn’t.

Alonso reappeared and 5th

Lewis Hamilton was named driver of the day, but more than one thought the honor had to go to Fernando Alonso. What a rush! The Asturian started in the 18th due to a penalty brought down on Ocon for his touch. He did it full of anger after what happened to his partner the day before. He went for it, with good speed, and placed 15th on the first lap. But due to some problems he stopped earlier than expected, the first driver to enter the pits to put in the same medium compound where he started. There, Alonso made the difference in an Alpine that was very fast this weekend. The Spaniard showed great speed in an important stint, extending the life of his tire while setting good times. He was running as low as 5th, but sank to 15th when he made his second stop, again, for another mistake at the Alpine pit stop with his left rear tire. To top it off, that slowed him down before an AlphaTauri came down pit road. In total, he lost 10″ more than normal in the pit lane.

But in a weekend where everything happened to him, and where even before the race the Alpine classic that he was supposed to include in the ‘Drivers Parade’ stopped, luck finally smiled on him. The Spaniard benefited from the final ‘Safety’ to gain time in his stop, as happened with Carlos, and started in 9th, just behind Ocon, as the only one in the Top-10 with new soft rubber (used Sainz for 7 twists) . That’s where his ‘show’ started.

They made it clear to Ocon that he shouldn’t fight Alonso in the first place. “But I have to pass Vettel”, said the Frenchman. “Pass to Vettel, but we don’t want you fighting Fernando.” Ocon needs to put his head down and put aside his Asturian differences. They both passed Vettel and then Ocon saw how Alonso passed him like an airplane. The Asturian then followed Bottas and with 6 to go he passed Pérez in a brilliant manoeuvre, emulating what Sainz had done earlier. Alonso was 5th and went for Leclerc. He stuck to 1″2, but it was too late. He couldn’t pass the Monegasque. Alonso, starting 18th, finished 5th and equaled his best result of the season, 5th place he has already achieved at Silverstone and Spa.