DOUBLE FIRST HAS RUSSELL IN TEARS

An emotional George Russell was reduced to tears after he held off Lewis Hamilton to claim the maiden win of his Formula One career in yesterday’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

Pole-sitter Russell delivered an electric start at Interlagos before expertly surviving a late safety car to follow in the footsteps of Hamilton, Jenson Button and David Coulthard and become only the fourth British winner of a grand prix this century.

Russell’s supreme performance – 24 hours after he triumphed in Saturday’s sprint race – followed another collision between Hamilton and Max Verstappen, with the latter penalised by the stewards.

But the day belonged to Russell, who in his 81st start, fourth season, and first alongside Hamilton at Mercedes, delivered the Silver Arrows’ opening win of a turbulent season. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finished third and fourth for Ferrari, with Verstappen sixth.

“I need some tissues,” the 24-year-old Russell said from inside his crash helmet, seconds after the chequered flag fell. “I am crying, boys and girls.”

Later, he added: “I was pretty impressed by how quickly I started crying. By Turn 2, I was in floods of tears.”

Russell was twice denied a brilliant victory – first through a Mercedes pit-stop mistake and then a puncture – as a remarkable stand-in for a coronavirus-hit Hamilton at the Sakhir Grand Prix almost two years ago.

His victory last night never looked in doubt. He crossed the line 1.5 seconds ahead of Hamilton as Mercedes completed a one-two finish. Russell now leads Hamilton by 23 points in the standings ahead of next week’s concluding round in Abu Dhabi.

“What an amazing feeling,” Russell said. “I have dreamt of this moment, many, many times. My career has been an emotional rollercoaster.”

Russell’s victory means Hamilton is now facing up to the prospect of losing his unique record of winning in every season.