SAO PAULO, BRATISLAVA. There was no indication that this would be a weekend that would end with a big celebration between Lewis Hamilton and the Mercedes team.
And it all started with a qualification, after which the commissioners examined the monopost of the world champion.
As it was confirmed that the rear spoiler was against the rules, he entered Saturday’s sprint from the last place. Sprint is a novelty in Formula 1.
These are shortened races, which are used to determine the starting order before the regular Grand Prix, and the best three competitors will receive 3, 2 and 1 point.
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However, due to the engine change, Hamilton already knew in advance that he would move back another 5 places before the start of Sunday’s grand prize.
“I was crushed,” he admitted. “But you have to deal with it and fight.”
Damon Hill: Stunning
These were not the ideal conditions under which the British pilot would like to fight for the title, as his rival Max Verstappen started from the front row in the sprint and in the grand prize itself. In the first case, Hamilton was so far away that he didn’t even see him through the sprint.
Already on Saturday, however, he showed that he is a master of his craft. He managed to get to the fifth from the last place with a sensational ride.
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He drove even better on Sunday.
“It was the best ride I have ever seen in Formula 1,” commented former British champion Damon Hill in his performance in Brazil. “It was absolutely breathtaking.”
He was constantly moving forward from the tenth position. He was third after five laps and led after the 59th. He overtook Verstappen and won his 101st career victory.
He returned to the title fight
Thanks to this result, he returned to the fight for the title. He loses 14 points to the Dutchman. Three big prizes and a total of 78 points remain available until the end of the season.
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“With the penalties, it was probably the hardest weekend I’ve ever had,” said 36-year-old Hamilton on Sunday after the race. In the course of two days, he erased the penalty by 25 places, although there are only 20 monoposts at the start of the race (20 on Saturday and another 5 on Sunday – editor’s note).
“I did not believe that I could reduce the lead in the fight for the title, because it was developing against us all weekend. But today’s result only shows that you must never give up. Whatever you face. You still have to fight. I did that all weekend, “Hamilton described.
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“This victory is like the very first for me, because I won after a long time.”
Hamilton won the Russian Grand Prix for the first time since September. He enjoyed the winning round. He even circled it with the Brazilian flag in his hands and showed it on stage.
Verstappen: We will return stronger
Despite the incredible performance and victory, he still loses the title fight. He loses 14 points to Max Verstappen. However, Mercedes’ success came at the last minute, if in Brazil it did not delay the loss, the fight for the title would be almost lost.
Verstappen won the most victories this season – 9. He rode well, especially in the second half of the season. He won 4 victories in the last 8 grand prizes and collected 22 points more than the title defender.
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In Brazil, however, he was visibly not enough for Hamilton. “We tried and tried everything we could. It was a thrilling duel, but we missed a little bit. Nevertheless, we still have a promising lead. I believe that we will be stronger in the next races, “said Verstappen.
The 24-year-old Red Bull driver is fighting for the first world title, his famous rival for a record eighth.
The fight continues next weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix. Formula 1 will have its premiere on this circuit. It will be important to see if Hamilton can reduce the difference even further, or Max Verstappen.
After the Qatar Grand Prix, two more events will remain until the end of the season – the Saudi Grand Prix (December 5) and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (December 12).
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