A classic in Brazil! Verstappen celebrates triumph in the last sprint of the season, Norris from first position at the start second

The Brazilian Grand Prix, the third race of the season since the end, hosted this year’s sprint derby. max Verstappen dominated the 24-lap chase for Saturday’s final scalp, coming within a point of the 500 points mark in a single season. After a great shootout success, Lando Norris was left in second place ahead of Sergio Pérez.

The Interlagos circuit can be classed as one of the easiest to overtake without any boring DRS manoeuvres. It’s no surprise, then, that this legendary Brazilian track hosted its third sprint since the introduction of the mini-race in the 2021 season.

The small pole position was won by Lando Norris and the McLaren, which but for a strategic error in Friday’s qualifying could have easily attacked the big one. Alongside him, Max Verstappen’s red bull was on the front row.

As usual, the three-time world champion didn’t wait for anything and already led the field after the first corner after the start. His teammate Sergio Pérez lost his third position on the grid first to George Russell and a few corners later to the second Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton. Russell also made a move on Norris on the opening lap, which Verstappen took advantage of to build an early lead.

LIGHTS OUT FOR THE SAO PAULO SPRINT!

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Verstappen nabs the lead at Turn 1!#BrazilGP #F1Sprint pic.twitter.com/QlaPEHOJwO

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 4, 2023

Pérez was unwilling to accept the possibility of being beaten by both Mercedes cars. On the third lap, he took on Hamilton with the help of DRS. This duel continued into the next circuit, which not only caused the pairing of Pérez and Hamilton to lose contact with the leading trio, but also resulted in a tight pack of almost the rest of the field forming behind them.

Norris moved back into second place ahead of Russell on lap five. However, he was already over a second behind leader Verstappen. Instead of retaliating, Russell had to fight back against Pérez, who passed the Briton into turn one.

Although the Mercedes driver quickly regained the lead from the Mexican, the next lap was done. Once again, Pérez got around Russell on the starting straight thanks to DRS and this time he made sure that Russell didn’t get back in front of him.

Who was doused with live water, however, were the AlphaTauri riders. Surprisingly, both Daniel Ricciardo and Juki Cunoda were able to keep pace with the Ferrari or McLaren in their battles for sprint points. Handsome battles at the end of the top 10 made up the second half of the sprint after the cars running in the top five separated.

Subsequently, the Brazilian sprint’s progress calmed down in these parts as well. With four laps to go, Leclerc managed to humble Hamilton in the battle for fifth place. To make matters worse for the seven-time world champion, Japan’s Cunoda overtook him on the next lap.

Ricciardo was still chasing eighth-placed Sainz on the final lap, only two tenths behind him at the finish. Verstappen took the win in the last sprint of the season ahead of Norris and Pérez. Russell, Leclerc, Cunoda, Hamilton and Sainz also took points from Saturday.

Brazilian Grand Prix Formula 1 sprint results (24 laps = 103.416 km; top 10 only):

1. Max Verstappen (Niz., Red Bull) 30:07.209
2. Lando Norris (Brit., McLaren) +4.287
3. Sergio Pérez (Mex., Red Bull) +13.617
4. George Russell (Brit., Mercedes) +25.879
5. Charles Leclerc (Mon., Ferrari) +28.560
6. Yuki Cunoda (Jap., Alpha Tauri) +29.210
7. Lewis Hamilton (Brit., Mercedes) +34.726
8. Carlos Sainz (Span., Ferrari) +35.106
9. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus., Alpha Tauri) +35.303
10. Oscar Piastri (Aus., McLaren) +38.219

2023 Formula One drivers’ standings (top 10 only):

1. Max Verstappen (Niz., Red Bull) 499 points
2. Sergio Pérez (Mex., Red Bull) 246
3. Lewis Hamilton (Brit., Mercedes) 222
4. Carlos Sainz (Spain, Ferrari) 184
5. Fernando Alonso (Spain, Aston Martin) 183
6. Lando Norris (Brit., McLaren) 176
7. Charles Leclerc (Mon., Ferrari) 170
8. George Russell (Brit., Mercedes) 156
9. Oscar Piastri (Aus., McLaren) 87
10. Pierre Gasly (Fra., Alpine) 56

Sources: F1, Twitter