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San Paolo (AFP) – The Danish driver of the Haas team, Kevin Magnussen, starts Saturday from the first place in the speed race (“Sprint”) set for the first poles in the Brazilian Grand Prix, 21st round of the Formula 1 World Championship, scheduled for Sunday. after setting the best time in free practice on Friday.
Magnussen finished 1: 11.674 minutes, ahead of Dutch Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who won the world title for the second time in a row (1: 11.877d), and British Mercedes driver George Russell (1: 12.059d) .
“I don’t know what to say, the team put me in a perfect position, I did a great lap and we’re in first place, it’s incredible!” commented Magnussen.
The 30-year-old Scandinavian benefited from the suspension of tests due to Russell’s accident, as well as the rain at Interlagos soon after, which prevented the drivers from improving their times.
The Brazilian Grand Prix is the last of the three sprint races of the season, after the Emilia-Romagna and Austria awards.
Speed races were included for the first time in the world calendar in 2021, which saw the organization of 3 races (the British Silverstone, the Italian Montsa and the Brazilian Interlagos), and the same this year, with the number increased to 6 races in 2023.
These races have been aiming for two years to present the show to G1 fans in three days with “normal” qualifying tests, that is, against the clock, which will take place on Friday and will determine the pole position in Saturday’s 100 km sprint, which in turn determines the layout of the grid for Sunday’s race.
This season, the scoring schedule has been improved, as the top three receive eight, seven and six points respectively, down to one point for eighth place.
Here is the ranking of the third free practice round:
1. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark / Haas) 1: 11.674 min
2. Max Verstappen (Netherlands / Red Bull) 1: 11.877
3. George Russell (GB / Mercedes) 1: 12.059
4. Lando Norris (GB / McLaren) 1: 12.263
5. Carlos Science (Spain / Ferrari) 1: 12.357
6. Esteban Ocon (France / Alps) 1: 12.425
7. Fernando Alonso (Spain / Alps) 1: 12.504
8. Lewis Hamilton (GB / Mercedes) 1: 12.611
9. Sergio Perez (Mexico / Red Bull) 1: 15.601
10. Charles Leclerc (Monaco / Ferrari) 0.000
© 2022 AFP
