We were ready to move on, aim for 2023 by collecting everything we have experienced in this strange but exciting season, certain of a rather monotonous ending. As always we were pleasantly proven wrong and after the most beautiful Sprint of the season the Brazil he also gave us a beautiful race, chaotic, full of twists and turns. No one spared himself, not even those apparently colder and more calculating like Max Verstappen. There are those who, in the greed that a circuit like this can arouse with its sinuous and fascinating curves, have made mistakes. However, there are also those who have been inspired by the history of the greatest who have trodden this stage. Let's see the tops and flops today at Fanta F1.
TOP
George Russell: The land of dreams is green yellow and blue for the Mercedes team that breaks the chain of successes Red Bull obtaining the first victory of the season with the new signing, George Russell in his first career hit. The first of many comes right at the peak of the rebirth of Mercedes which with Austin and Mexico has completed the updates to bring the W13 not only to the podium but to victory. On the podium he jumps like a child, he is moved to the tune of "God save the Queen", the English anthem that hasn't played on the podium for a year. His also the Sprint of Brazil, simply flawless.
Carlos Sainz: He won't have returned to victory as many hoped given the tragic-comic epilogue of the race, with the Hamilton-Verstappen clash and a redhead finally returning to raise its voice even if, not as much as Mercedes, but Carlos has pulled out claws again. Another precious podium arrives for him, despite the attempts of Charles who wanted him to be granted the position for second place in the drivers' championship.
Lewis Hamilton: Russell's success does not detract from Lewis Hamilton's great work. Despite the contact with Verstappen, he closes a very important 1-2 Mercedes. In what would be his “home” weekend, he recognizes the importance of this result not only for George but for the entire team, taking a step back, aware that this result brings him even closer to victory.
FLOPS
Daniel Ricciardo: At McLaren there was a little too much optimism in assessing the risks and dangers of hand-to-hand combat. The first disaster is caused by Ricciardo at the start, in turn 8. Torpedo Magnussen on the weekend of the premiere pole historic for Danish. Fate to punish him sends Kevin's VF-22 back like a boomerang that signals the end of his race. After Brazil, Abu Dhabi, the next stop will be his last dance.
Lando Norris: His teammate, Lando Norris, is no less, taking a 5-second penalty after contact with Charles Leclerc, engaged in overtaking, who was forced to return to the pits to change the front wing. The Englishman finishes the race early due to a problem with his car. We are probably at the epilogue of the fight with Alpine.
Max Verstappen: it's probably the first or second time at most that we've flopped it. Aggressive at the re-start from Safety caused by the accident between Magnussen and Ricciardo, he wants to get Lewis Hamilton off his back. The two, unlike other episodes in this season which have never seen them as "direct rivals", perhaps too optimistic touch each other, but it is Max who pays the consequences, who also takes a 5 second penalty which discounts in the second pit stop. He tries to do everything possible to recover even with a series of risky overtakings but that's not enough. It's a bad day for the Fantamanagers who had chosen him as captain.
