Second and third in the Brazilian GP this Sunday behind Max Verstappen, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly had a memorable day in Sao Paulo despite the difficult conditions.
Cocorico in Sao Paulo. Max Verstappen, leader in the Formula 1 world championship, won the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of the French from Alpine Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, while Lando Norris (McLaren), second overall, finished 6th.
On the famous soggy Interlagos track, the Red Bull driver, who started 17th on the grid, ended a drought of more than four months without a Sunday victory and took 18 points from Norris. Ocon and Gasly offer Alpine, in great difficulty this year, its first podiums of the season. “After the difficult season we had, it’s great to drive here. I knew that in the rain the cars would be fair. It’s incredible to be on the podium. The car was difficult to drive on the dry track I like when it rains here, it’s a special race,” said Esteban Ocon at the finish.
>> Relive the Brazilian GP
For his part, Pierre Gasly was also smiling after a complicated year. “It’s incredible for the whole team. We’ve struggled a lot to score points this season. Two cars on the podium, no one could have imagined that. This morning, the qualifying sessions were bad. I’m proud of it. team, coming back after a difficult season Everyone should be proud today.”
In the championship, Verstappen takes 18 points from Norris. At the next meeting, in Las Vegas, “Mad Max” has a first chance to retain his world crown since he is now 62 points ahead of his British rival, and could therefore be titled in the streets of the cited from the game on November 23.
Providential red flag
When the lights went out, George Russell, second on the grid, immediately took the reins of the race from polesitter Norris. Far behind, Verstappen also got off to an excellent start since at the end of the first lap, the three-time reigning world champion was already 11th. True to his status, the Dutchman then progressed to gradually move up the hierarchy. Shortly before halfway, several drivers – including the two leaders Russell and Norris – took advantage of the intervention of the virtual safety car (VSC) to return to the pits and put on new tires.
Ocon, then third after starting fourth on the grid, thus regained the lead of the race ahead of championship leader Max Verstappen and his teammate Gasly. Thanks to a big helping hand from fate, these three drivers, who until now had not stopped to change their tires, benefited from a “free” pit stop a few laps later, when the race started. was interrupted after the violent exit from the track of the Argentinian Franco Colapinto (Williams). When the GP restarted, Ocon, very comfortable on a wet track, quickly got rid of Verstappen… until Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) went off the track, necessitating the neutralization of the race and the intervention of the safety car.
At the new restart, Verstappen showed all his talent to take back the reins of the GP from Normandy and begin his flight. Behind, Ocon rode solidly to maintain his position ahead of Gasly, 13th on the grid, who resisted the Mercedes of George Russell until the end, finally fourth.
Revamped program
Thanks to this double, the French team, in great difficulty since the start of the season, jumped to sixth place (out of 10) in the constructors’ standings. This weekend, drivers and teams had to deal with a revised program due to the downpours of rain which fell on Saturday afternoon in the Sao Paulo region. For this reason, qualifying was postponed until Sunday morning. At their end, Lando Norris won the eighth pole of his F1 career – the 7th this season -.
These qualifiers produced a surprising second row, with the modest Racing Bulls of Japanese Yuki Tsunoda in third, ahead of Ocon. On the sidelines of the championship, this weekend was also an opportunity for the paddock to pay a new tribute to the Brazilian F1 legend, Ayrton Senna. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, honored in 2022 with the title of honorary citizen of Brazil, notably took the wheel of the 1990 McLaren of his idol on Sunday morning, who died in a racing accident in Imola (Italy) ago 30 years old.
