São Paulo GP – Bottas surprises Verstappen and takes pole, Hamilton comes back!

Big favorite of this Sprint Race after the downgrading of Lewis Hamilton before leaving, Max Verstappen did not keep his rank. Author of a less good start than Valtteri Bottas, the Dutchman was surprised and above all overtaken before the first braking by the Finn with the perfect reaction to the lights going out.

Fallen even 3rd after seeing Carlos Sainz taking the inside at turn 4, Max Verstappen notably complained of a clutch problem at the start. Stung in his pride, the Batavian quickly reacted by recovering his right in front of the pilot Ferrari before launching an attack on Valtteri Bottas. Using a different tire strategy, the latter, on soft compounds, managed to create a gap of just over 2 seconds on the championship leader. A gap maintained for a few laps before it reduced considerably. With medium tires, Max Verstappen then managed to get back under second but despite the help of the two DRS zones he was never able to appear threatening in the driver's mirrors Mercedes.

#BrazilGP(I.e.

Le replay du départ avec la bataille dans le quatuor de tête 💥

▶ https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/QlvfMkUzvo

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) November 13, 2021

Conqueror in this Sprint Race, Valtteri Bottas takes three points and above all offers himself a 20th career pole position, thus limiting the damage at Mercedes after the start at the back of the grid of Lewis Hamilton. Max Verstappen gleans two points and increases his lead to 21 points over the Englishman, author of a very good comeback this Saturday near the Autódromo José Carlos Pace.

Sentenced to the back of the grid after being disqualified from qualifying for violating article 3.6.1 of the technical regulations for a non-compliant DRS, Lewis Hamilton completed a perfect Sprint Race. Forced to go back up when he is sure to go back 5 places on the grid this Sunday for an engine penalty, the seven-time world champion fulfilled his mission perfectly. Quickly 16th after getting rid of the Haas and Williams, the Briton then continued to overtake. Stroll, Giovinazzi, Alonso, Ricciardo, Hag, Or with, gasly, Leclerc or even Norris, all these drivers could do nothing against an unleashed Lewis Hamilton who crossed the line in 5th position. Due to his sanction, he will start 10th in the São Paulo Grand Prix.

Valtteri Bottas wins the Sprint qualification and will therefore start on pole #BrazilGP🇧🇷 devant Verstappen ! 🏆

Hamilton fait plus que limiter les dégâts et s'élancera en 10e position sur la grille 💪

▶ https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/5N4lRIKJ4M

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) November 13, 2021

The speed difference between Hamilton and Ocon 🤯#BrazilGP(I.e. pic.twitter.com/kVxwXJ9oFf

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) November 13, 2021

Fifth on the grid, Carlos Sainz mastered his subject this Saturday at Interlagos. Author of a good start, the Spaniard even climbed to 2nd place before losing to Max Verstappen. The Iberian, however, consoled himself with the point of 3rd place which allows him to be in a good position this Sunday. His teammate Charles Leclerc He experienced a more complicated Sprint. Never really comfortable with the medium tires on his Ferrari, the Monegasque had a rough time before suffering during the second part of the race. After Lando Norris, he saw Lewis Hamilton slip past him for a final 7th place under the checkerboard.

After successful qualifying on Friday and a 4th position on the grid this Saturday, Pierre Gasly was only a shadow of himself. Getting off to a bad start, the Norman fell back in the rankings and had to fight to stay in contact. Released by Charles Leclerc, he crossed the line in 8th position, less than half a second ahead of Esteban Ocon. Sebastian Vettel completed the Top 10.