Verstappen Clinches 17th Win in Sao Paulo GP as Alonso Snatches Third on The Line

Max Verstappen secured a dominant victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, extending his season’s win record to 17 in Formula 1.

The Red Bull driver faced a momentary challenge from McLaren’s Lando Norris early in the race but quickly gained control, maintaining a significant lead throughout.

Fernando Alonso’s remarkable drive in the Aston Martin earned him the final podium position, surpassing Red Bull’s Sergio Perez in the final lap after a brief exchange of places.

Mercedes faced a disappointing outing in the 2023 season, with Lewis Hamilton finishing in eighth place and his teammate George Russell retiring while running in 11th position.

This race was an unforeseen setback for the former champions regardless of showing promising improvements in recent races with an upgraded floor.

Verstappen’s victory remained unchallenged after the initial exchange with Norris, but it was Alonso’s exceptional performance that stood out during the race.

Alonso displayed a remarkable defensive strategy against Perez and employed brilliant racing tactics to regain the third position after briefly losing it on the penultimate lap.

Perez closely followed Alonso, utilizing the DRS overtaking aid, but Alonso’s strategic driving prevented Perez from successfully overtaking. Although Perez managed to pass Alonso into Turn One on the penultimate lap, Alonso swiftly counterattacked.

Making a smart move in Turn One on the final lap, Alonso compromised Perez’s run through the Senna S, enabling him to regain third place. He managed to defend his position through the final corner, crossing the line just 0.053 seconds ahead of Perez.

The race witnessed an early first-lap crash, leading to retirements of Alex Albon and Kevin Magnussen, resulting in a red flag.

At the front, Verstappen’s performance was commendable, while Norris and Alonso held their positions unchallenged. The race saw a return to form for Aston Martin, with Lance Stroll securing a strong fifth-place finish.

However, the race turned into a dismal day for Mercedes, as both Hamilton and Russell faced considerable challenges, struggling with tire wear and unexpected setbacks in performance.

Russell, who was running behind Hamilton, had to retire due to a power-unit overheating issue, indicating the team’s ongoing struggles with their car’s performance.

Source: BBC Sports