Max Verstappen used a lightning start to sweep by Lando Norris and take the lead on the first lap of the Formula 1 Sprint race in Brazil before driving to victory in the 24-lap race on Saturday (Nov. 4).
Norris finished the day in second after an early battle with George Russell. Sergio Perez collected a podium result and six points as he looks to secure second place in the drivers’ championship.
“It was, of course, important to try and get ahead at the start,” Verstappen told Sky Sports’ Naomi Schiff after the race. “I think the initial launch wasn’t, let’s say amazing, but the second part of the start was very good … 24 laps on one tire set is very so I was trying to maintain a constant lap time and I think we managed the race quite well out there today.”
Verstappen and Norris spent the majority of the race in a league of their own, save for a brief appearance in second place from Russell. Further back in the pack the battle was on for every point available as teams look to squeeze all they can out of their 2023 campaigns with only three Grands Prix left on the schedule.
Lewis Hamilton, however, only collected two points on the day after struggling with pace throughout the event, averaging nearly a full second per lap slower than Verstappen from start to finish. The seven-time champion netted a seventh-place finish after qualifying fifth at a track which has historically treated Mercedes well. Hamilton now sits 24 points behind Perez in the battle for second place in the drivers’ standings.
Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri provided plenty of action in the final 10 laps as they did battle for eighth place, the final points-paying position in the Sprint format. Ultimately Sainz took the final point with an eighth place result, followed by Ricciardo in ninth and Piastri in 10th.
2023 F1 Brazil Sprint Results
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, with coverage on ESPN.
Alex is the IndyCar Content Director at Frontstretch, having initially joined as an entry-level contributor in 2021. He also serves as Managing Director of The Asia Cable, a publication focused on the international affairs and politics of the Asia-Pacific region which he co-founded in 2023. With previous experience in China, Japan and Poland, Alex is particularly passionate about the international realm of motorsport and the politics that make the wheels turn - literally - behind the scenes.
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