São Paulo GP – Hamilton cracks Verstappen and returns to the championship

A duel of champions. This is what we witnessed this Sunday at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo. Falling back to 10th place after the Sprint Race due to a 5 place engine penalty, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) was doomed to the exploit not to see Max Verstappen (Red Bull) take a big step towards the title.

The task seemed difficult before the start but the word “impossible” does not appear in Lewis Hamilton’s vocabulary. On the attack as soon as the lights go out, the Mercedes driver quickly gets rid of his first competitors like the drivers Ferrari, Carlos Sainz et Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) Or Esteban Ocon (Alpine). With the first single-seaters cleared, the Briton can then focus on the second part of his comeback.

The Red Bulls in the first positions after the departure of #BrazilGP ! 🚀🇧🇷

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— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) November 14, 2021

As a good soldier, Valtteri Bottas did not disobey the team's orders and let his teammate pass in front so that he could attack the Red Bulls and in particular Max Verstappen. After taking 2nd place from Sergio Pérez at the end of a great battle between the two men, the seven-time world champion caused chaos among the Austrians by stopping first.

Without delay, Lewis Hamilton saw his rival cover his strategy and remained in the lead of the race. Then began the standoff between the two great leaders of this 2021 season. Dissatisfied after seeing the Englishman attempt the undercut, Max Verstappen managed to stay away from his enemy's DRS despite the time lost in one lap. Exhausted, he gave everything until the 41st lap, the moment chosen to dive into the pit lane for the second time.

A strategy immediately covered by Lewis Hamilton who returned to the track on hard tires less than two seconds behind his counterpart with 30 laps still to cover. He then launched his famous “Hammer Time”. Quickly returning to contact, the Briton made his first attempt at T48 but he saw Max Verstappen delay his braking as much as possible to maintain his position.

Hit but not sunk, Sir Lewis Hamilton remained in contact with the leader but never managed to really put himself in an attacking position until the 59th lap of the race. Nestled in Max Verstappen's exhausts at the exit of the Curva Do Sol, the Mercedes leader activated his DRS and made short work of the Batavian, this time forced to bow out for good.

Lewis Hamilton takes control! This end of the Grand Prix 👀🔥#BrazilGP(I.e.

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— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) November 14, 2021

With 12 laps still to go, Lewis Hamilton will never be caught again and will sign his 101st career victory, his 6th in 2021. This result allows him to relaunch the championship since he comes back to 14 points behind Max Verstappen while he Only three Grands Prix left before the end of the season. Faithful soldier of the Briton, Valtteri Bottas completes the podium just ahead of Sergio Pérez who takes the point for the best lap in the race. A very small point that could have a big impact in this exciting 2021 campaign.

📻: “THAT. is. how. you. do. it” 😎🏆#BrazilGP (I.e.

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— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) November 14, 2021

Forgotten by the cameras as usual lately, Charles Leclerc offers the 10 points for 5th place to Ferrari. The Scuderia scores big points in the fight for 3rd place among the Manufacturers since Carlos Sainz collected 8 thanks to his 6th position. McLaren for his part only gets one (Lando Norris 10th. Editor’s note). The Reds continue their comeback.

And among the Blues, the smiles are out. With Fernando Alonso 8th and Esteban Ocon 9th, Alpine collects 6 points which allow it to remain tied with AlphaTauri in 5th place in the Manufacturers ranking (106 on each side). A duel which should be close until Abu Dhabi, scene of the last round of the season.