Hamilton wins in Brazil, Mercedes takes constructors’ title
Five-time world champion Lewis Hamilton won the Brazilian Grand Prix yesterday, helping his Mercedes team to take the Formula One constructors’ title.
The British driver finished 1.4 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen completed the podium at Interlagos.
Hamilton’s 10th victory of the season was helped by Force India’s Esteban Ocon, who collided with Verstappen on the 44th lap when the Dutchman led the race. Verstappen had been building his lead over Hamilton, who was using medium tires as he waited for rain that never came in Sao Paulo.
Verstappen managed to stay in the race after the incident and get closer to Hamilton in the final laps, but it wasn’t enough for his second consecutive victory.
"I hope I can’t find him in the paddock now," Verstappen said of Ocon. The Frenchman finished 15th.
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, who is second in the overall standings, finished sixth.
It was Hamilton’s second victory at Interlagos, the same track where he won his first title 10 years ago.
Hamilton celebrated his win and his team’s title with samba dancers on the podium.
"This is what everyone works for, we really pulled together as a unit this year," Hamilton said. His teammate Valtteri Bottas finished fifth.
The final race of the season is at Abu Dhabi on Nov. 25.
RESULTS
1. Lewis Hamilton, Britain, Mercedes GP, 71 laps, 1:27:09.066, 25 points.
2. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull, 71 laps, 1:27:10.535, 18.
3. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Ferrari, 71 laps, 1:27:13.830, 15.
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Red Bull, 71 laps, 1:27:14.259, 12.
5. Valtteri Bottas, Finland,
Mercedes GP, 71 laps, 1:27:32.009,
10.
6. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 71 laps, 1:27:36.063, 8.
7. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, SauberFerrari, 71 laps, 1:27:53.265, 6.
8. Romain Grosjean, France, Haas F1, 71 laps, 1:28:00.296, 4.
9. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas F1, 71 laps, 1:28:01.923, 2.
10. Sergio Perez, Mexico, Force India, 70 laps, +1 lap, 1.
11. Brendon Hartley, New Zealand, Scuderia Toro Rosso, 70 laps, +1 lap.
12. Carlos Sainz, Spain, Renault, 70 laps, +1 lap.
13. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso, 70 laps, +1 lap.
14. Stoffel Vandoorne, Belgium, McLaren, 70 laps, +1 lap.
15. Esteban Ocon, France, Force India, 70 laps, +1 lap.
16. Sergey Sirotkin, Russia, Williams, 69 laps, +2 laps,
17. Fernando Alonso, Spain, McLaren, 69 laps, +2 laps,
18. Lance Stroll, Canada, Williams, 69 laps, +2 laps,
NR. Nico Hulkenberg, Germany, Renault, 32 laps, DNF.
NR. Marcus Ericsson, Sweden, Sauber-Ferrari, 20 laps, DNF.
Driver Standings
1. Lewis Hamilton, 383
2. Sebastian Vettel, 302
3. Kimi Raikkonen, 251
4. Valtteri Bottas, 237
5. Max Verstappen, 234
6. Daniel Ricciardo, 158
7. Nico Hulkenberg, 69
8. Sergio Perez, 58
9. Kevin Magnussen, 55
10. Fernando Alonso, 50
11. Esteban Ocon, 49
12. Carlos Sainz, 45
13. Romain Grosjean, 35
14. Charles Leclerc, 33
15. Pierre Gasly, 29
16. Stoffel Vandoorne, 12
17. Marcus Ericsson, 9
18. Lance Stroll, 6
19. Brendon Hartley, 4
20. Sergey Sirotkin, 1
Manufacturers Standings
1. Mercedes GP, 620
2. Ferrari, 553
3. Red Bull Racing Tag Heuer, 392
4. Renault, 114
5. Haas Ferrari, 90
6. McLaren Renault, 62
7. Force India Mercedes, 48
8. Sauber Ferrari, 42
9. Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 33
10. Williams Mercedes, 7