Russell wins sprint, Mercedes front row for Grand Prix

This is George Russell's first victory in Formula 1. Well, not really, but a little bit nonetheless! This will in fact never appear in the history books, but better, it will remain engraved in everyone's memories as one of the highlights of the season. While the first part of the race suggested an easy victory for Max Verstappen, George Russell came out of the woods mid-race to tickle the Dutchman several times and offer spectators the most beautiful sprint race of the year.

The Briton tried several times to pass the Batavian, always with almost the same strategy: a vain attempt to uncross in turn 2, before a more bloody attack at turn 4. Verstappen closed the door twice, but the third was the right one, and Russell just had to take off, at the wheel of a Mercedes clearly found. He will start on Sunday in pole position for the Grand Prix, with his teammate Lewis Hamilton alongside him, due to the engine penalty of Carlos Sainz, 2nd in the sprint. What a story for Mercedes, nowhere since the start of the season and clearly coming back to life since Austin. 

Red Bull in difficulty

Red Bull, conversely, surprised by its lack of rhythm. Is this due to the choice of Verstappen, the only one to start in Medium in the top 10? Or is it just a pure performance issue? We will know more on Sunday. The Batavian, 4th in the sprint, lost big in his defense of second place against Sainz on the 19th lap. While the pilot Ferrari dived at him inside, Max tried to uncross him... but he disengaged too soon. He ultimately lost a piece of front wing, and two positions... 

For its part, Kevin Magnussen, for his first start from pole, had done the job when the lights went out by keeping Verstappen behind him. But very quickly, the overall level of his package brought him back to earth. At the house of Haas, we hoped to stay in the points. It was done, at the last minute (8th). From the 3rd lap, Verstappen passed, before being imitated by the following six drivers. The race was also marked by two fratricidal fights. 

Internal duels!

Between the two Alpine First of all. On the first lap, at turn 4, Or with held his position in front of his teammate Fernando Alonso, which almost knocked the two A522s to the ground by slipping on the curb. He then tried to take revenge two laps later by attacking the Frenchman again in the straight. The Norman did not seem to move inside, but the Spaniard hit his teammate and lost large elements. After going through the pits, he finished 16th… and ahead of Ocon, who had some aerodynamic damage. 

Aston Martin also gave us its share of internal fights. In a remake of Hag-Leclerc from 2019 at Mercedes, between turns 3 and 4, the German attacked his Canadian teammate from the left, who literally pressed him down into the grass. The four-time world champion, in order not to offend the team boss, will be content with a laconic “Ok”, before passing him again a lap later. Also note the pretty 10th place held by Pierre Gasly, who scraped two positions ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix, with the lights going out scheduled for 19 p.m. (French time). 

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