First Formula 1 Grand Prix victory for George Russell

This Sunday was to be not only the second last race of the Formula 1 season, but also an even curious race. I don't like to remember so many incidents and crashes, and so many tire changes. Accordingly, the standings changed constantly from start to finish.

After the Mercedes team shone in yesterday's 24-lap sprint race (Russel on 1, Hamilton on 3) and only Carlos Sainz on Ferrari was able to squeeze in between, it was clear that Mercedes had good cards in their hands at the Brazilian GP. The Mercedes racing team seems to be hitting its stride towards the end of the season after being without a chance against Ferrari and Red Bull throughout the season. An omen for 2023? With the sprint win behind him and pole position, Russell was able to start the race in good spirits. Everything went smoothly for him at the start and he kept ahead of Hamilton and Sainz. But already in the first lap there was a crash between Daniel Ricciardo on McLaren and Kevin Magnussen on Haas, which called the safety car for the first time. Now the two Mercedes are in front, chased by the Red Bull, Norris and Ferrari. No sooner does the safety car go back in than there is another crash, this time between Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull). The latter had wanted to force the overtaking. Shortly afterwards, Lando Norris (McLaren) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) collide. All fours fall backwards, et voilà, the leader's carousel spins. Verstappen and Norris are each given a 5-second penalty by the stewards for the accidents. Now begins an arduous battle against the clock, an arduous chase to catch up for the drivers who have been thrown to the back of the field, and an eternal strategy poker as far as tire choice is concerned. Lando Norris has to retire on the 54th lap, technical knockout. As Norris's racing bolide does not seem to be so easy to remove, a safety car phase is again called. At the restart, Russell pulls away again, with Sainz, Perez, Hamilton and Leclerc fighting for positions behind him. Even Verstappen moves closer. When Perez's tires run out, he is passed to the rear, even Verstappen overtakes him. Hamilton does everything he can to catch his young British stablemate, but he has no chance. George Russell crosses the finish line in superior style after 71 laps, closely followed by Lewis Hamilton: double victory for Mercedes and thus the first win for Mercedes this season and the first victory for George Russell in a Formula 1 race.