Finished the thriller qualifications of the GP of the Brazil, with the rain that made the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace the scene of accidents and twists, is Lando Norris to conquer pole position.
On a day characterized by wet and treacherous track conditions, the starting grid was turned upside down, promising an afternoon of racing that was equally complicated and full of twists.
Behind Norris on the starting grid chaos reigns: Lewis Hamilton closes Qualifying in 16th position, while MaxVerstappen, qualified in P12, will drop back further due to a grid penalty; being in P17.
Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri managed to get to Q3, but will still start from the bottom of the top 10. Meanwhile, the pits are in turmoil, with the teams busy repairing the damage suffered by the cars of Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon, Lance Stroll and Franco Colapinto.
Carlos Sainz to start from Pit Lane, Albon does not take part in the race
The Grand Prix hasn't started yet, yet here comes the first twist of the day: Carlos Sainz to start from pit lane in Brazilian GP.
Ferrari has decided to break up parc fermé to complete the necessary modifications following Sainz's accident. Power Unit and Gearbox replaced, exceeding the regulatory limits. This means a forced start from the pit lane for Carlos Sainz who will have to face an uphill race from the beginning.
The non-presence of confirmed Alexander albon for GP, the damages cannot be repaired in time.
Brazilian GP: Stroll hits the wall and confusion on the formation lap
The Brazilian GP had a chaotic start, marked by accidents and confusing decisions. Lance Stroll lost control of his car on lap 4, ending up in the gravel during the formation lap. This led to the start being aborted, with the stewards initially considering cancelling it and planning another formation lap.
However, the situation further degenerated when, despite the aborted start, a new round of training was started with Lando Norris. The McLaren driver should not have moved according to Art 47.1 and it's therefore investigated for having moved at the end of the first training lap.
It should be noted that, at that moment, other drivers followed the British McLaren driver, creating further complications in the management of the race. More penalties could come.
The uncertainties and tensions before the start left the public waiting for clarifications and developments, making the atmosphere even more frenetic in view of the race.
Brazilian GP: the race finally begins at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace
After all this chaos, The Brazilian GP finally begins. George Russell starts super aggressively and immediately takes the lead of the race. Another mistake at the start for Lando Norris, a problem that unfortunately haunts him: of his eight pole positions, he has lost the lead on the first lap on seven occasions.
The situation is further complicated when Sergio Perez turns around, thus finding himself in last position. Yuki tsunoda, Meanwhile, stabilizes in third place, while Charles Leclerc shows a good start, managing to go back up to the fifth position.
Verstappen unleashed in the initial phase of the race. On lap 8, the Dutch champion sets his sights on Oscar Piastri, aiming to take seventh place. With a series of bold overtaking moves and an impressive pace, Verstappen once again demonstrates his determination to climb the standings after a difficult start.
The overtaking is only a matter of time, it comes on lap 10 while braking at turn 1. Quick turn in 1:24.015
Brazilian GP: Updates from Race Direction
On lap 13, the situation on the track becomes further complicated. The FIA stewards have announced that an investigation will be launched to the cars number 63 (Russell), 22 (Tsunoda) and 30 (Lawson).
The infringement concerns the starting procedure. The stewards announced that an investigation will also be opened regarding Norris' start, again for the infringement related to the starting procedure.
This news adds further tension and uncertainty to the race, with the drivers under investigation for their actions during the start of the GP.
We are on lap 25, Verstappen is climbing back up 5 ° position. Charles Leclerc gives up the position by returning to the pits for Intermediate tyres.
Rain intensifies on lap 27, leading to increasingly difficult racing conditions. Nico Hülkenberg momentarily stopped on the track and the situation leads to the Virtual Safety Car being deployed.
Many drivers take advantage of this to go to the pits: Oscar Piastri, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, Sergio Pérez and Ollie Bearman make the pit stop during the Virtual Safety CarRussell and Norris enter late.
Brazilian GP: Safety Car and Red Flag
The current ranking sees Esteban Ocon in 1st position, followed by Max Verstappen in 2nd place. The race conditions became too complicated, and on lap 31 the Safety Car was deployed.
Many drivers have reported the treacherous moment, calling for the intervention of the stewards, but the decision to activate the Safety Car does not favor those who have chosen to mount tires more suited to the conditions.
The situation worsens further when Franco Colapinto crashes into the wall, causing an accident under the Safety Car. The episode leads to the display of the red flag, thus suspending the race. This event calls into question the strategies of all the drivers and gives Ocon, Versatppen and Gasly a 'free' pit stop.
Meanwhile Russell e Hamilton under investigation for changing tire pressures on the grid. More news: black flag and therefore disqualification for Nico Hülkenberg.
The driver was penalised for rejoining the track after the marshals had touched his car, a violation of the rules which prohibit this action.
Brazilian GP: We start again and immediately many mistakes, Sainz OUT!
La F1 restarts after a short break, but the difficulties in the wet are still being felt. Oliver Bearman, before the restart, goes on the grass and slips into last position.
In the meantime, the green flag goes out and Lando Norris commits a long foul, leaving the field open to George Russell, who takes advantage of it, overtaking McLaren and moving up to P4.
Norris in trouble, only P5, right behind Charles Leclerc and Oscar Plates. The apparently calm situation lasts a few laps, then it becomes complicated again on lap 40, when Carlos Sainz ends up in the wall, leading to the release of a new Safety Car. He gets out of the car, race over for him.
Here we go again! On lap 43 of 69, Lando Norris commits a long foul, allowing a Charles Leclerc overtook two rivals in one go.
Max Verstappen, meanwhile, has taken the lead of the race, overtaking Esteban OconIt's a disaster for Norris at the restart, who slips to seventh place after a series of long runs, while the yellow flag is waved for Fernando Alonso.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri receives 10 second penalty, further complicating his situation in a GP already full of twists and turns.
Tough duel between Lawson and Pérez, with the New Zealander managing to maintain ninth place. However, a moment of distraction for Sergio Pérez turns into a nightmare: he is overtaken by Lewis Hamilton and thus loses access to the points zone.
With 7 laps to go, Max Verstappen continues to lower his times lap after lap. Max is not having it, furious after this morning's qualifying, he wanted to prove that this world championship is his. That he has no rivals worthy of being called as such. And he has actually proved it, no one has done as well as him. Norris is in sixth position, guilty of having wasted too many opportunities, of having made so many mistakes in this race.
Behind Max, who has reached a gap of 14 seconds, Ocon and Gasly continue to remain at the forefront. The Enstone team needs this double podium to revive the season.
Super Max Verstappen returns to winning ways!
After a long wait since the Spanish GP, the Dutch World Champion returns to impose himself in Brazil, with a solid and determined performance. Verstappen was able to handle the most difficult race of the year with coolness, finding that winning form that seemed to escape him in the last races.
Behind him, Esteban Ocon took a brilliant second place, showing extraordinary competitiveness, followed by Pierre Gasly, who stepped onto the podium after a hard-fought and perfectly managed race. Double podium for Alpine, celebrating an extraordinary result.
George Russell finished in fourth place, managing to contain Charles Leclerc despite the difficulties of his SF-24. Sixth Lando Norris, who however paid for some uncertainties in crucial moments.
The top ten also included Yuki Tsunoda, Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson and Lewis Hamilton, concluding an exciting race full of challenges until the last lap.
A final twist from Max that makes his fourth world title even more secure!
