The Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), leader of the Formula 1 world championship, took a serious option for a fourth title in a row by winning the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday in São Paulo, ahead of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly ( Alpine), while the Englishman Lando Norris (McLaren), 2e in the general classification, could not do better than 6e. We had not seen two French people at the same time on the podium since 1997 (Olivier Panis and Jean Alesi 2e et 3e in Spain).
On a wet Interlagos track, the winner, who had not won a GP since the end of June in Spain – he had won the sprint race two weeks ago in the United States – was “went through all the emotions”would he react to the arrival, he who occupied a very distant 17e place on the starting grid but had already moved up to 11e rank at the end of the first round. “We stayed out of trouble and made the right decisions”he also congratulated himself.
We had not seen two French people at the same time on the podium since 1997: Olivier Panis and Jean Alesi 2e et 3e in Spain…
Shortly before halfway, several competitors took advantage of the intervention of the virtual safety car (VSC) to return to the pits and put on new tires. Ocon, then 3ethus regained the lead ahead of Verstappen and Gasly.
Thanks to a real helping hand from fate, these three, who until now had not stopped to change their tyres, benefited from a “free” pit stop a few laps later, when the The event was interrupted after the violent exit from the track of the Argentinian Franco Colapinto (Williams).
On the restart, Ocon, very comfortable on a wet circuit, quickly got rid of Verstappen… until the Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) went off the track. Re-neutralization, re-safety car, re-launch and re-number of the Batavian. Until the checkered flag.
