Brit breaks through with F1 victory

Chased to the end by Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, a tearful George Russell won his first race in Formula One on Sunday by 1 ½ seconds at the Brazilian Grand Prix. It was also Mercedes’ first GP win of an otherwise disappointing season with Hamilton making it an impressive 1-2 for the team in a statement of intent for next season. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. completed the podium at Interlagos. The 24-yearold Russell, above, dominated the race in Sao Paulo from the start, which had him in pole position on the grid. He had seven podium finishes before Sunday’s victory. Russell became the first British driver to hear “God Save the King” played for the race winner after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 8 and accession of King Charles III. “It has been an emotional roller coaster ... Lewis put me under so much pressure,” Russell said. “This is just the beginning.” Hamilton, who started second, had dropped to eighth after his car made contact with season champion Max Verstappen’s Red Bull on the seventh lap. The Dutchman was given a five-second penalty and finished sixth.