The Paddock Chat

George Russell’s promising start at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix ended in frustration as his early lead turned into a P4 finish following a mistimed pit stop strategy. After starting in second, Russell snatched the lead from Lando Norris at the first corner and maintained control, keeping Norris just over a second behind amid wet conditions and limited DRS. However, Mercedes called Russell in for a tire change under a Virtual Safety Car, a move Norris’s team also executed. Shortly after, a red flag was issued following Franco Colapinto’s crash, allowing other drivers to pit without losing track position, which dropped Russell and Norris down the order. Reflecting on the situation, Russell said, “If we’d stayed out, we’d have been leading at the restart ahead of Ocon, Verstappen, and Gasly. I was pretty angry because I wanted to stay out.” Russell, who led for over 30 laps, believed he could have achieved a better result, especially given the challenging weather and track conditions. “We had everything under control with a solid gap to third place. I felt confident we’d get a Safety Car or red flag, and it was frustrating when it did come.” The race ultimately saw Verstappen storm from P17 to victory, with Alpine’s Ocon and Gasly joining him on the podium, as heavy rain reshuffled the expected order and left Russell to wonder what might have been.

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner expressed excitement after Max Verstappen’s impressive charge from P17 to victory at Interlagos, shifting the championship momentum in his favor. Despite qualifying 12th due to a late-session red flag, Verstappen was pushed back to 17th by an engine-change penalty, setting up a challenging race. In a wet and incident-filled Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Verstappen quickly fought through the field, advancing into the points. A red flag allowed him a free tire change, setting the stage for his final surge. He overtook leader Esteban Ocon and extended his lead, ultimately finishing 19.477 seconds ahead and claiming the fastest lap. “It was a masterclass from Max,” Horner remarked. “In tough conditions, he was both patient and aggressive. To move from 17th to first was beyond what we’d expected.” This win is Verstappen’s first since Spain, after Red Bull struggled with their RB20, while McLaren and Ferrari gained ground. However, Verstappen showcased the car’s pace in Brazil, setting multiple fastest laps and extending his lead over Norris to 62 points. “We had the car today,” Horner noted. “It’s a credit to the team’s hard work in Milton Keynes. Everyone has put in the effort to get back to winning form, and Max maximized that today.” Although Norris still has a slim mathematical chance, Verstappen’s lead makes it unlikely he’ll be caught if he maintains his current form. On the constructors’ side, Red Bull is third, with McLaren leading and Ferrari second, just 36 points behind. Sergio Perez had a tougher race, narrowly missing out on points after an early spin put him at the back. “It’s frustrating,” Horner admitted. “The spin set him back, and although he pushed hard, finishing out of the points with a fast car is disappointing. But he’ll reset and come back stronger in Las Vegas.”

Ferrari’s win in Mexico, led by Carlos Sainz, etched his name alongside legends Jacky Ickx and Alain Prost as one of only three Ferrari drivers to secure a victory at this circuit. Combined with Red Bull’s disappointing performance, the Scuderia now rank second in the constructors’ standings, trailing only McLaren. Here are some other notable stats from the thrilling 71-lap race: • Sainz’s Hot Streak: Sainz finished first and second in his last two races, marking a shift after a 14-race streak of not placing higher than third. • Multiple Wins Milestone: This season, Sainz achieved his first dual-win season (Australia and now Mexico), with three prior career wins. • Rare Ferrari Wins in Mexico: Ferrari’s last victories in Mexico were in 1970 (Ickx) and 1990 (Prost). • Winning from Pole: This is only the third time in 12 races a driver won from pole, following Norris in the Netherlands and Singapore. • First Podium in Mexico: Sainz claimed his maiden podium finish in Mexico, making him the first Spanish-speaking driver to win in the world’s largest Spanish-speaking city. • McLaren’s Mexico Milestone: Norris’s P2 gave McLaren their first Mexico podium since Senna’s P3 in 1991, marking their 19th podium of the season—their highest since 2007. • Ferrari’s Close One-Two: With Leclerc’s P3, Ferrari nearly achieved back-to-back one-twos, a feat last seen in 2008. • Ferrari’s Constructors’ Rise: Ferrari now hold second in the constructors’ standings, just 29 points behind McLaren. Other notable finishes included: • Hamilton in P4: The Mexico race marked Hamilton’s first time off the podium here since 2018. • Magnussen’s Best Finish: P7 for Haas was his highest finish since Bahrain 2022. • Points for Haas: Both Haas cars scored points, their third double-points finish in 2024. • Gasly’s Consistent Points: Alpine’s Gasly, who placed 10th, scored his sixth points finish of the season. • Alonso’s Bad Luck: Alonso retired due to technical issues, echoing his 2023 DNF in Mexico City. These stats underscore Ferrari’s momentum, pushing them closer to a championship comeback as they chase their first constructors' title since 2008.