Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was
cruelly robbed of what looked set to be a remarkable win at Interlagos, after a
dramatic collision while battling the lapped Force India of Esteban Ocon
allowed Lewis Hamilton through to take the race victory, helping to secure
Mercedes fifth consecutive constructor title in the process.
Verstappen was enjoying a strong
Brazilian Grand Prix, and had seized the lead from Hamilton when Ocon attempted
to unlap himself down the pit straight on lap 44. Both drivers refused to
yield, with Ocon holding out around the outside of Turn 1 before the
pair touched, sending both drivers into a spin, Hamilton gratefully nipping
through between them before going on to record his 72nd career win. Verstappen
was left unimpressed, as were the stewards, who duly handed Ocon as 10-second
stop-go penalty.
Bad for Verstappen but great for
Mercedes, who become only the second team – after Ferrari – to claim five
consecutive constructors’ crowns, to add to Hamilton’s fifth drivers’ title
from last time out in Mexico. In a thrilling final few laps, Ferrari's Kimi
Raikkonen just managed to hold onto the final podium position from a charging
Daniel Ricciardo who finished fourth in the second Red Bull. Mercedes' Valtteri
Bottas took fifth and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel sixth, while Sauber’s Charles
Leclerc drove a fine race to claim the best-of-the-rest prize in seventh.
We
now head to the season finale at the spectacular Yas Marina circuit in Abu
Dhabi on November 23-25. With both titles now decided, this is set to be an
enjoyable romp for personal glory, as the drivers – with no championship
pressure to dictate their strategies – go all-out for the final race win of
2018.
No comments:
Post a Comment