George Russell delivers Brazilian Sprint Race win for Mercedes

The Sprint Race in Sāo Paulo thrilled fans in what was one of the most exciting racing spectacles of the season, as George Russell battled hard and fair with Carlos Sainz to secure a front-row start ahead of his Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton.

Kevin Magnussen started in pole position for the first time in his Formula 1 career after a dream Friday qualifying session. The luck continued as the Danish driver had a perfect start, going on to lead the opening lap from Max Verstappen.

Verstappen was preoccupied with the threatening Mercedes of George Russell, whose start saw him alongside the 2022 World Champion heading into Turn 1.

The drivers put on one of the most entertaining racing displays of the season, both overtaking Magnussen on Laps 3 and 4, before setting their sights clear on one another.

Alpine had an internal battle, seeing contact on multiple occasions between Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon in the opening laps of the sprint race. Alonso was squeezed by his teammate at Turn 4 impacting his Lap 1 momentum, followed by contact on the main straight which cost the Spaniard his front wing, requiring an undesired stop, and ruining his race.

Carlos Sainz’s sprint race was all about damage control. The Ferrari driver will take a 5-place grid penalty for tomorrow’s Grand Prix after electing to take a 6th new ICE of the season.

Lap 2 saw Sainz move up on his former teammate, Lando Norris, and on Lap 4, the Spaniard was making moves on the first-time pole sitter.

Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-22, leads Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL36, George Russell, Mercedes W13, and the rest of the field at the start during the São Paulo GP at Autódromo José Carlos Pace on Saturday November 12, 2022 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Zak Mauger / LAT Images)

His teammate, Charles Leclerc, seemingly lacked the similar race pace compared to Sainz, being held up for a substantial portion of the sprint race behind Ocon before passing the wounded Alpine.

Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel gave the Aston Martin pit wall a fright, battling closely with one another before Stroll was handed a 10 second penalty for pushing his teammate onto the dirt.

Lap 12 saw the Verstappen-Russell battle reach its peak, with the duo trading first place with one another on multiple occasions, however, a stationary Alex Albon brought out yellow flags, halting overtaking.

With racing quickly resumed, Russell claimed P1 from Verstappen on Lap 16 and held it for the remainder of the race.

In another great battle, Sainz, Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton had an exciting tussle for second place. Into Turn 1 on Lap 19, Sainz made successful overtake on the Red Bull driver, however, with slight contact which cost Verstappen his front wing end plate.

Across the line, Russell led Sainz and Hamilton to fill out the top three places, however, for tomorrow’s Brazilian Grand Prix Mercedes will lock out the front row due to Sainz’s penalty.

Rewarded for their efforts, Kevin Magnussen and Haas earned themselves one point in the sprint race, converting their first-ever pole position to a points finish in P8.

Despite the chequered flag being waved, Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo and Zhou Guanyu remain under investigation for starting infringements.

The Brazilian Grand Prix looks set to be an exciting one with the front runners looking on equal playing fields to challenge for the win in Sāo Paulo.

Lights out for the Brazilian Grand Prix will take place at 3:00 pm local time (5:00 am Monday AEST)