Brazil – Race: Consolation prize for Vettel and honorary award for Hamilton!

Sun and heat at Interlagos. After the rain of 2016, temperatures soared for the edition /f1/actualite/22383-bresil-qualifications-bottas-en-pole-hamilton-dans-le-mur.html, with 60 degrees on the track. A suffocating and stressful setting for the machines during this nineteenth round of the season, two weeks before the Abu Dhabi finale.

As usual, the stands at the Autodromo José Carlos Pace were fully packed. Almost all eyes were on the local hero. Felipe Massa was truly racing in his last Brazilian Grand Prix. Before giving up his seat to the returning Kubica, the 2008 Vice World Champion started from the ninth position.

A beautiful touch as Felipinho joins his Dad @MassaFelipe19 for the Brazilian national anthem #BrazilGP 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/AqAv1Hm1mb

— WILLIAMS RACING (@WilliamsRacing) 12 novembre /f1/actualite/22383-bresil-qualifications-bottas-en-pole-hamilton-dans-le-mur.html

Just in front of him, the two Renaults of Sainz (8th) and Hülkenberg (7th); the warrior Alonso, a brilliant sixth, behind Sergio Pérez.

On the first two rows, Verstappen and Räikkönen were the outsiders. The two favorites were named Sebastian Vettel and poleman Valtteri Bottas, after a great battle this Saturday. A race for victory and also for the honorary title of vice world champion, with 15 points separating the two men before the start.

But where on earth had the new crowned head gone? In the pits! After making a mistake on his first lap of Q1, Lewis Hamilton had opted for a complete overhaul of his W08: new engine, chassis, and gearbox to tackle the season’s finish. The Briton was ready for his comeback operation as his colleagues set off for the formation lap.

Vettel forces the passage, disaster among French speakers!

Many twists right from the start of the Grand Prix: three highlights marked this first lap. At the front, Vettel sneaked inside, just barely, ahead of Bottas. The Finn was forced to give up the lead!

Behind, the French speakers were losing ground. Stoffel Vandoorne was sandwiched at the exit of the first sequence. Magnussen pushed the Belgian onto the curb. Problem: Ricciardo was also there. The Red Bull driver spun out, and the McLaren driver was forced to retire.

Further along the circuit, Ocon and Grosjean improvised a rather poor ballet. The Haas spearhead was too greedy and tried to overtake his rival before the left of Ferradura. The first mentioned lost the rear of his car and bounced off the pink panther. With both rear wheels punctured, Ocon was forced to retire. An unprecedented event with the first retirement in the young Norman’s career, 28 races after his arrival in Formula 1.

LAP 1/71: Debris flies as Ocon and Grosjean collide after the start 💥#F1 #BrazilGP 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/AQXH3AS9rj

— Formula 1 (@F1) 12 novembre /f1/actualite/22383-bresil-qualifications-bottas-en-pole-hamilton-dans-le-mur.html

The Safety Car was out for five laps to clear debris in the second corner. Vettel led the pack on the restart and maintained control. Behind him were Bottas, Räikkönen, and Verstappen. Massa and Alonso occupied two strong positions: fifth and sixth.

But that was not going to last. On his soft tires, Hamilton was already ninth by the end of the tenth lap! The new world champion had notably overtaken Pierre Gasly, who was hovering near the points. His climb continued without hitch. Even Alonso could not resist the assault of number 44! Massa was the last one on the list. Passed at the end of the first sector, Hamilton moved into the top 5 without flinching, behind the unchanged leading quartet.

LAP 24: Last time around…

VER = 1:14.1s#LH44 = 1:13.6s

He’s coming! 💪 #BrazilGP 🇧🇷

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) November 12

Condemned to the same pattern, Ricciardo settled into his task and executed his famous “dive-bombs”. Lance Stroll and Marcus Ericsson had the bitter experience. Dan the Man was also in the points by the fifteenth lap.

Hamilton takes thirteen laps in the lead

It was now necessary to monitor the deterioration of the tires, accelerated in this Brazilian furnace.

On his super-softs from the start, Vettel was leading the pace, with Bottas always close behind. The Finn tried the famous undercut on lap 28. A quick reaction from Ferrari, with the German following suit on the next lap. It was timely: the positions remained unchanged, just barely!

LAP 29/71: And Vettel emerges ahead of Bottas to retain his advantage

But only just 👀#BrazilGP 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/kwsbPdKalx

— Formula 1 (@F1) 12 novembre /f1/actualite/22383-bresil-qualifications-bottas-en-pole-hamilton-dans-le-mur.html

Verstappen had watched the battle through his binoculars after his own pit stop. Meanwhile, Räikkönen drove a lap in the lead before stopping as well, handing over control to… Lewis Hamilton, in person! And the new leader wasn’t fazed, matching the lap times of his teammate, who was on fresh soft tires!

In the background, Red Bull played the team race. Also remaining on track, Ricciardo gave up his fifth place to Verstappen.

Further on, Hülkenberg overtook Gasly, who was still on worn tires, for honor. An overtaking maneuver that illustrates the current situation in the constructors’ standings: Toro Rosso’s sixth place has never been more at risk from Renault.

The race stabilized until the 44th lap. A favorite number for Hamilton, who finally changed his tires, just like Daniel Ricciardo. The reading of the standings was optimal: Vettel was back in the lead, with a 2.5-second advantage over Bottas. Räikkönen was third, 4.3 seconds ahead of Verstappen and especially 9 short seconds ahead of the Briton, fitted with brand new super-soft tires!

Daniel Ricciardo resumed the race in seventh position, in the slipstream of Felipe Massa. The real opponent for the Brazilian veteran was mainly Alonso, in eighth. Pérez and Hülkenberg occupied the last two places in the points. Last classified, Grosjean was surprised to receive a penalty for his first-lap maneuver with Ocon.

LAP 44/71: Race leader Hamilton finally pits from P1

He emerges in P5

18 seconds behind Vettel (P1)

13 seconds off a podium place#BrazilGP 🇧🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/eAWecF5kIu

— Formula 1 (@F1) 12 novembre /f1/actualite/22383-bresil-qualifications-bottas-en-pole-hamilton-dans-le-mur.html

The Wild Ride of a World Champion and a Stressful Finale!

The finish of this round focused on two issues. Hamilton was closing in rapidly on the Verstappen-Räikkönen duo. Alonso provided a few thrills for the Brazilian crowd, battling for seventh position against Felipe Massa. But what a misfortune for the Asturian Bull, who spent the entire race without DRS!

But Hamilton capitalized on a first offensive on his first attempt. Verstappen was comforted by his engineer after losing his fourth place at the exit of Senna’s S.

LAP 62/71: Hamilton up into P4 after passing Verstappen

Gap to Räikkönen in P3 = under four seconds 🤔 #BrazilGP 🇧🇷 #F1 pic.twitter.com/hmAkDMlnWz — Formula 1 (@F1) 12 novembre /f1/actualite/22383-bresil-qualifications-bottas-en-pole-hamilton-dans-le-mur.html

Judging his car “undriveable” in left turns, the Dutchman wisely opted for a tire change. It was a four-way battle that concluded this Grand Prix. Hamilton was coming back within five seconds! And the blisters on the back of the car didn’t stop the British hammer from pounding. However, it was insufficient against the Finnish ice. Räikkönen managed to hold onto his third place by a whisker.

For the victory, Vettel did not falter! The 46th success of his career falls into the lap of the fallen in this title race. And above all, a new success for his team, three and a half months after the last winner’s trophy received in Budapest. In addition, a very probable status as vice world champion. Three points will suffice for the driver in the final race in Abu Dhabi…

Behind the quartet and the two Red Bulls, there was a nice three-way battle between Massa, Alonso, and Pérez. The trio remained unchanged, much to the delight of the Brazilian, who secured a splendid seventh place, the best of the rest! The victory lap was filled with emotions, featuring a message from his son via radio. This time, Felipe Massa did not miss his exit!

INITIAL CLASSIFICATION (LAP 71/71)

Here’s how they finished at the #BrazilGP 🇧🇷#F1 pic.twitter.com/gr8MjyFWTq

— Formula 1 (@F1) 12 novembre /f1/actualite/22383-bresil-qualifications-bottas-en-pole-hamilton-dans-le-mur.html