Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2022
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix may be the second-to-last race in the 2022 Formula 1 season, but it still delivered drama and excitement in spades.
It saw Marcedes return to dominance as George Russell grabbed the first F1 race of his career. And Lewis Hamilton came a close second for his third podium finish in a row.
But the real drama came from Red Bull as world champion Max Verstappen defied team orders to allow teammate Sergio Perez through, a move which has had massive repercussions for the race for second in the drivers’ standings as well as the two Red Bull drivers’ relationship moving forward.
Read on below as SBOTOP recaps an eventful Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Highlights of the game
Mercedes’ George Russell came into the main race on a high as he won the Sprint race and secured his second pole of the season. He was followed by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.
But Sainz fell to seventh due to a five-place grid penalty for taking a new engine, significantly reducing his Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2022 odds of victory. With Sainz dropping down the grid, Hamilton and Verstappen – who finished fourth after a collision with Sainz – rose to second and third, respectively.
Russell and Hamilton both made strong starts to the race, but the safety car was out right away as Kevin Magnussen and Daniel Ricciardo both crashed out. It was a disappointing result for Ricciardo, whose time in F1 might be coming to a close.
The race finally restarted on lap 6, but there was another collision just one lap later, and it involved Hamilton and Verstappen, who touched as the Red Bull tried to force his way down the outside of the Mercedes driver. Hamilton veered off the track, while Verstappen came in to pit after sustaining damage to his front wing.
And a couple of laps later, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc were involved in a coming together. Leclerc wound up in the wall but was able to get going again.
After the stewards investigated the two crashes, Verstappen and Norris were both handed five-second penalties.
Race leader Russell finally made his first pit stop on lap 25 and came out in second, 11 seconds behind new race leader Hamilton. Hamilton finally made his first stop five laps later as Russell regained the lead.
But on lap 45, Hamilton provided one of the top Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2022 highlights as he overtook Sergio Perez for second place. And he made his second stop just four laps later, changing to the softer tyres.
After the safety car came out, the race was back on for the final 10 laps, with Russell hoping to hold off Hamilton. But the young Brit was holding his ground and set the fastest lap of the race. Meanwhile, Perez went from third to fifth as both Sainz and Leclerc – who is still battling Perez for second in the drivers’ standings – were able to pass the Red Bull.
Even Verstappen – who had come roaring back from the back of the order – also overtook his teammate to jump up to sixth with four laps to go.
And this is when the controversy begins. Despite team orders for him to let Perez pass in a bid to improve his chances of finishing second in the standings, Verstappen refused to help his teammate as he finished the race in sixth.
When asked after the race what had happened, Verstappen replied over radio: “I told you already last time. Don’t ask that again to me — are we clear about that? I gave my reasons and I stand by it.”
Meanwhile, Mercedes gave the green light for their two drives – who were just over a second apart – to race to the finish. But despite Hamilton’s best efforts, Russell held on to claim his maiden Grand Prix win in a Mercedes one-two.
Key statistics
Five years after making his first F1 start in Brazil back in 2017 with Force India, George Russell claimed his first F1 win at Interlagos. He became the 113th race winner in F1 history and the 20th British winner.
This was Mercedes’ first one-two finish in more than two years, the last one being at Imola in 2020. Moreover, it was the first British one-two since Hamilton and Jenson Button finished atop the podium in the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc finished in fourth and is now tied on 290 points with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez in the battle for second in the World Championship with just one race to go.
What’s next?
It’s off to Yas Marina Circuit next week for the F1 season finale, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. After Verstappen’s refusal to help his teammate, Perez will have to outduel Leclerc to secure second spot.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the two Red Bull drivers to see how the incident at Interlagos has affected their relationship as teammates.
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