RUSSELL LEFT ‘SPEECHLESS’ AFTER FAULTLESS BRAZILIAN GP VICTORY
Sprint qualifying success followed by maiden Formula 1 grand prix win for British racer
Mercedes’George Russell said he was bowled over by his first Formula 1 victory at Interlagos on Sunday as he fended off late pressure from seven-time title-winning teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Russell had won the sprint race on Saturday and then controlled the main race from pole position. On his 81st grand prix start, the King’s Lynn racer survived a late-race safety car period to lead Hamilton home to take Mercedes’ first win of the year.
“I’m speechless. On the in-lap, all of these memories sort of came flooding back,” Russell said in his post-race interview. “Starting off with my mum and dad in karting and going through and all the support I’ve had from the rest of my family, my girlfriend, my trainer, my manager.
“What an amazing feeling, just a huge thank you to the whole team for making this possible. [Hamilton] put me under so much pressure, but [I am] so happy to go away with the victory.”
Hamilton had earlier had a controversial flashpoint where he and nemesis Red Bull’s Max Verstappen collided at Turn 2 following an early-race restart as the Dutch driver was aiming to grab second place.
The first-ever playing of God Save the King rang out over the Sao Paulo podium to herald George Russell’s maiden win in Formula 1 last Sunday.
At his 81st attempt, the Norfolk man calmly withstood the pressure to beat his seven-time World champion team-mate Lewis Hamilton in a chaotic and eventful 71 laps around Interlagos.
This was Mercedes’first 1-2 since Imola 2020 and the first British 1-2 since the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix – and a well-deserved victory for Mercedes after its torrid season.
After winning the Saturday sprint race, Russell started from P1 and beat Hamilton into Turn 1. Afterwards he brilliantly controlled the race, calming dealing with safety car restarts and his team-mate breathing down his neck in the closing stages.
“It’s an incredibly emotional feeling as it’s been such a journey that my family and I have been on,” said a tearful Russell. “From my struggles at Williams, the highs and lows. Even this year, when you have Lewis as a team-mate it’s difficult. He’s really pushing me and I know how fast he is – and I was driving the race of my life. I was so happy when I crossed the finish line in first.”
Behind the race winner, there was plenty of incidents and anger building up between team-mates at a number of teams up and down the pitlane. The race also featured another on-track clash between Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
On the opening lap, Daniel Ricciardo attempted to pass Kevin Magnussen at
Turn 9 in the midfield, but after slightly misjudging his braking he tapped the Haas into a spin. The Dane then rolled backwards and hit the McLaren putting them both out of the race. The safety car appeared as the two cars were cleared away. It was a disappointing end for Magnussen who earlier in the weekend had brilliantly secured his and Haas’s first pole after rain on Friday meant he couldn’t be beaten in qualifying.
When the safety car peeled in, Verstappen attacked Hamilton for second and as the pair rounded the first corner they were side-by-side. The gap narrowed between them and Verstappen wouldn’t concede the place. It resulted in contact and a broken front wing – and a five-second time penalty – for Max. Hamilton lost places but was able to also continue.
Further around the lap birthday boy Lando Norris (who had been suffering with food poisoning all weekend) hit Charles Leclerc, sending the Ferrari spinning into the wall. He too was able to continue and pitted for a new front nose, meanwhile 23-year-old Norris was given a five-second penalty.
Up front Russell had a comfortable lead from Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz, although the Ferrari driver had to pit early after a visor tear off was blocking his rightrear brake duct causing a small fire. As the tyre strategies were playing out mid-race, Hamilton was making up ground, coming through the field – with the Brazilian crowd wildly cheering his every move, adopting the British driver as one their own. Russell led from Sainz, Hamilton and Perez but 19 laps from the end the safety car was deployed again.
Norris had suffered an electrical issue and his McLaren cut out on track. Sainz pitted and as the field closed up, Russell was curious to know how the team wanted to act with Hamilton now behind him.
“What are we doing? Are we racing or securing a 1-2?,” he asked his team. “Racing – but be respectful,” was the reply. It probably wasn’t the answer he wanted to hear, but when the safety car came in with 11 laps to go – he judged the restart to perfection and always kept more than a one second margin to Hamilton on his way to the chequered flag.
Behind the focus was on second place in the championship and the points battle between Leclerc and Perez. The Ferrari driver was asking whether there was any chance Sainz would relinquish his podium to help his cause. The answer was negative, much to Leclerc’s displeasure.
Meanwhile, Perez was struggling and Verstappen passed him for sixth with four to go. If he couldn’t improve his position, he was asked by the team to return the place to his team-mate on the final lap. But Verstappen put down a significant marker. He refused to concede the place igniting a unnecessary row in his Red Bull team. “I gave you my reasons why. Do not ask me again,” said Verstappen. “It shows who he really is,” said Checo in reply.
The inference is this was revenge for Monaco when Perez crashed in the dying seconds of qualifying to secure the win the next day. The impact of Max’s actions means Perez and Leclerc are tied on 290 points each as they head to Abu Dhabi this coming weekend. This season has one final throw of the dice left…