MOTORSPORT: Hamilton takes stunning victory in Brazil

Lewis Hamilton drove like the champion he is to win the Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix, but it helped that his Mercedes-AMG was easily the fastest car.

Despite two penalties, one for an illegal rear wing and the other for a fresh engine, he was able to snatch the top spot in Brazil from his championship rival Max Verstappen as his wing man Valtteri Bottas completed the podium with third.

Even so, and with only three races to the end of the Formula 1 season, Verstappen still has a 14-point lead in the driver’s world championship.

The big unknowns now are the two new tracks that come next in the season, in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, before the final race in Abu Dhabi.

“Quite a big question mark for everyone. Last weekend we were very happy in Mexico and now it’s the other way around. But it’s been like that for the whole season,” said Verstappen.

But there were no question marks in Brazil, as Hamilton had a top-speed advantage that allowed him to steam through the field from 10th on the grid.

There was a momentary delay when Verstappen drove them both off the road during a battle for the lead, something else that’s been common all year, but there was no stopping Hamilton.

It was a dismal day for Daniel Ricciardo, who only made 49 of the scheduled 71 laps in Sao Paulo in his McLaren.

Hamilton brushed aside the controversy over his latest confrontation with Verstappen as he concentrated on celebrations.

“I didn’t let it faze me. I just kept racing,” he said.

But he also admitted that he had a tough time, despite the speed of his Mercedes-AMG.

“I don’t remember another weekend like it. The last time I remember having something like this I was in Formula 3,” he said.

“I definitely didn’t know that I was going to win. It is quite overwhelming, to be honest.

“This has been such a hard weekend. Once we knew we had the engine penalty we knew would be starting five positions back.”

Verstappen, always the fighter and always the young bull challenging the champion, was still happy with second.

“Of course I tried everything I could. Clearly we are lacking a little pace, a bit too much,” he said.

“At the end, it didn’t work out. I’m not too disappointed, because I think this is a realistic result. At least we had a bit of fun.”

While the Formula 1 title is still swinging, Remy Gardner – son of former MotoGP world champion Wayne – scored another championship for Australia when he nailed down the Moto2 title in Spain.

He only finished 10th in the final race of the two-wheel season but it was enough for him to graduate to MotoGP in 2022 as the champion.

2021 Brazilian Grand Prix results:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-AMG
4. Sergio Perez, Red Bull
5. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
6. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
7. Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
8. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
9. Fernando Alonso, Alpine
10. Lando Norris, McLaren
11. Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
12. Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo
13. George Russell, Williams
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo
15. Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
16. Nicholas Latifi, Williams
17. Nikita Mazepin, Haas
18. Mick Schumacher, Haas
DNF Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
DNF Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

2021 Formula 1 driver standings:
1. Verstappen, 332.5
2. Hamilton, 318.5
3. Bottas, 203
4. Perez, 178
5. Norris, 151
6. Leclerc, 148
7. Sainz, 139.5
8. Ricciardo, 105
9. Gasly, 92
10. Alonso, 62