Max Verstappen has extended his impressive win record this season at the São Paulo Formula 1 Carnival. As in his only Brazil victory to date in 2019, the 26-year-old Dutchman asserted himself from pole position and once again showed a confident, world-champion performance in a race that was only initially dramatic.
Second behind Verstappen was Lando Norris in the McLaren – this was exactly the order in which the two rivals, who were good friends, had crossed the finish line in the sprint around 24 hours earlier. Third came Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin in a thrilling final duel with Sergio Pérez in the second Red Bull.
The Mexican not only polished up his self-confidence, which had often been damaged recently, especially after the very early retirement due to an accident at the home race a week ago. In the second Red Bull he increased the lead in the World Cup rankings over the weak record world champion Lewis Hamilton (8th) in the Mercedes to 32 points. Nico Hülkenberg took twelfth place in the Haas in a race that, at least at the beginning, lived up to the reputation of being a spectacular course.
Leclerc is eliminated in the warm-up lap
Samba rhythms and a carnival atmosphere prevailed on the starting grid. But before it really got started, it was over again for Charles Leclerc. He had secured second place on the grid behind Verstappen in the weather-chaos qualifying on Friday, but on the warm-up lap the Monegasque driver slipped off the track in his Ferrari and crashed into the barrier. “Why do I always have such bad luck?” he radioed desperately to the pits. A defect in the Ferrari was to blame. The steering wheel no longer responded and there were also problems with the engine, said Leclerc, whose seat in the front row remained vacant when the red lights went out.
That left room for attacks. Verstappen got away without any problems, further behind it became tight, too tight. A tire flew through the air and Kevin Magnussen in the Haas and Alexander Albon in the Williams had a quick exit in turn one after their accident. And too many car parts on the track caused red flags, i.e. an interruption.
Verstappen defends first place at the restart
After almost 20 minutes everything started again. Only that his friend Norris was standing next to the Dutchman at the restart. And stayed too. Verstappen defended his first place. Norris, who had finished sixth in qualifying, then tried again: Verstappen’s counterattack was clear, however. Within a few kilometers he gained a lead, which he expanded even further.
The hopes of the German works team Mercedes of winning at least one race of the season, like a year ago, in Brazil, dwindled after massive tire problems in the sprint. In the main race over 71 laps, last year’s winner George Russell also reacted with little understanding to the team strategy – he was stuck behind record world champion Hamilton, who, as an honorary citizen of the largest South American country with a huge Brazil flag, had more reason to be happy on the drivers’ parade lap than in the race .
Next setback for the Silver Arrows
Russell, who had complained several times over the radio, was told to drive the car back into the garage early around twelve laps before the end. Hamilton crossed the finish line in eighth place. Another setback for the Silver Arrows, who are fighting for runner-up position and a lot of money against Ferrari in the constructors’ championship behind the old and new champion Red Bull.
While Alonso initially defended his podium place with all his routine against Pérez and spectacularly regained third place after his final attack, Verstappen did at the front what he has done in 17 of 20 races this year. Even after changing the tires again, nothing changed in the ranking of the first two places. Verstappen crossed the finish line first with a clear lead.
