Over the years Brazil GP has produced exciting and action-packed races. So there were all ingredients for a cracker of a race on Sunday. Of all top drivers, Verstappen has failed most often in terms of taking a good start. But this time Max had both his nerves and his Red Bull perfectly under control. He accelerated into the lead with no mistakes. Hamilton took a magnificent start as well, making his way past Sebastian and claiming P2. Sebastian was third, and Bottas managed to maintain his fourth place at the start. Leclerc, who had started to the race from modest P14, had made his way up to P11 by lap 2. Kimi's start to the race was also impressive. Alfa Romeo's race pace proved competitive, and Haas' Grosjean had no chance to defend his 7th place against the ice-cool Finn. However, the Iceman had a threat of his own, as in no time Charles had made it at his tail.
In the midfield there was a fiery fight between Renault's Ricciardo and Haas' Magnussen. Unfortunately it has often proved true, that where there is Magnussen, there's a collision. No exception this time. Magnussen was trying to keep the Australian behind, and a collision took place. Ricciardo's front wing took serious damage, and the Honey Badger had to pit for a new nose cone. The Dane, too had damage to his front wing, and they both dropped down to the very back of the pack. This time it was Ricciardo, who was proven guilty; a few laps later Ricciardo was given a 5-second time penalty for causing the collision.
By lap 20 Charles had jumped to 6th already. He was lurking right behind Red Bull's Albon, hungry to get past. Meanwhile, the pit window was open. Hamilton was the first top driver to pit. The world champion opted for another set of soft Pirellis, and re-joined the track in P6. Race leader Verstappen pitted a lap later, for a similar tyre strategy. Unfortunately, Williams' Kubica was released unsafely right in front of Max, which cost the Red Bull ace some valuable seconds. Due to this incident, Hamilton moved ahead of Max. However, nothing on track proved an obstacle for Max, who was absolutely on flames. He swept past Hamilton in Turn 1; what a fighting spirit Max showed! The lion was unleashed.
Sebastian drove into the pits on lap 26, for a differing tyre strategy. The German switched to the medium compound, so theoretically, a one-stop strategy would be possible. For one lap Bottas was leading the Brazil GP, until he pitted on lap 27. Interestingly, the Finn switched to the hard compound. Valtteri was clearly aiming to make a one-stopper work. Charles, who had started to the race on the medium compound, pitted not until on lap 30. The Monegasque, too, opted for the white-walled hard compound. There haven't been many races this season, where tyre strategies would have been this versatile!
Determined Verstappen was leading the race, with Hamilton second and Sebastian third. This trio was followed by Bottas, Albon and Charles. One-stop strategy proved no option for any driver of the three big teams. Hard tyres didn't offer the performance Mercedes had hoped, and Bottas pitted already after 14-lap stint on the hard Pirellis. Teammate Hamilton pitted a couple of laps later; they both opted for the medium compound. Red Bull had to react and call race leader Verstappen in. Medium Pirellis were also the race leader's choice. Max re-joined the track just barely ahead of Hamilton. Bottas was putting pressure on Charles, whose pace on the hard compound was quite mediocre. Valtteri pushed all power buttons available, but Charles had decided, that overtaking wasn't going to happen. His defending moves were somewhere in "the grey area", and Bottas was stuck behind him.
After Sebastian and Red Bull's Albon had pitted for the second time, Verstappen was back in the lead, with Hamilton following him closely. Sebastian was in P3, hunted by teammate Charles and Mercedes' Bottas. However, at Interlagos Mercedes proved vulnerable after being bullet-proof the whole season this far. On lap 52 there was smoke coming from the rear of Valtteri's W10, and an engine issue was an undeniable fact. Valtteri's Mercedes stopped on track, and safety car was deployed. The deployment of the safety car opened the chance for a strategic game. Verstappen pitted from the lead, whilst Hamilton stayed out. Max, who now had fresh softs on, re-joined the track in P2 behind Hamilton. This anticipated trouble for the six-time world champion!
As the safety car was about to come in, Hamilton slowed down to walking speed, trying to optimize his position at the re-start. But what did Verstappen do at the re-start!? He made an unbelievable move into the outside of Hamilton, squeezing himself past the Briton's Silver Arrow and snatching the lead! Wow, what a crazy move it was! Max definitely owned this race!
The re-start started a series of action-packed events. Albon, who also had fresh soft tyres on, was putting serious pressure on Hamilton. The Briton was suffering from the decision not to pit under the safety car. Sebastian, who had lost his third place to Albon at the re-start, was breathing to the Thai driver's neck. Sebastian dived alongside Albon already, but the Red Bull ace wasn't going to crack under pressure. Albon was so close to achieve his very first podium finish in F1!
Lap 66 took my breath away. Charles forced his way past Sebastian in Turn 1, and it seemed, that the German was truly caught by surprise. Sebastian was gutted for losing the position to his teammate; he moved into the outside of Charles, accelerating past his teammate... But the wheels of their cars touched with dramatic consequences! The contact caused both Ferraris a puncture, and Sebastian's adventurous move swept both red cars out of the race! I was absolutely devastated! And sad! And disappointed! Sebastian's setback-filled first half of the season had turned around only shortly, and now this... I couldn't believe my eyes!
Safety car was deployed for the second time, and Hamilton, too pitted for the second time. The order of the top five was extremely interesting; Verstappen was leading the race, with Red Bull's Albon second and Toro Rosso's Gasly third! Hamilton was fourth, followed by McLaren's Sainz and the Alfa Romeo duo of Kimi and Giovinazzi! Red Bull were on their way to an unbelievable 1-2!
After the re-start there were two boiling hot laps to come. Hamilton swept past Gasly, taking P3 from the Frenchman. Kimi was doing everything he could to pass Sainz, but the Spaniard wasn't going to surrender. Hamilton had so much hunger to get past Albon; so much, that it proved costly for the Briton. Hamilton made a move, which led into contact with superbly performing Albon. The Thai driver spun, and Gasly snatched P2 from the sister team's driver. Hamilton had damage to his front wing, but he continued putting pressure on Gasly until the end.
Verstappen, the unleashed lion, drove to the chequered flag as the celebrated race winner. Unbelievable but true, Gasly won his battle against the six-time world champion and finished the runner-up! Hamilton crossed the finish line in P3, but after the race the Briton was handed a 5-second time penalty for causing the collision with Albon. Hamilton dropped down to P7 in the final results. This promoted Sainz to his very first podium finish! Kimi was remarkable 4th, with teammate Giovinazzi 5th! What a cracker of a race in terms of results!
I definitely would have wanted to be at Ferrari's post-race team meeting! There have been a lot of rumors concerning the tension between the Ferrari teammates, and the Brazil GP made the worst case scenario true! The team have a lot of laundry to do before heading to the season finale in Abu Dhabi!
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