FORMULA 1
Verstappen wins the Sprint race at Interlagos
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen triumphed in the last sprint race of the Formula 1 season, which was run as part of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.
The Brazilian Grand Prix marked the end of the 2021 Formula 1 Sprint season, with the final short race being won by Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing. The Dutch driver secured victory after a thrilling race, which saw him fend off several challenges from his rivals. The Brazilian Grand Prix is held at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and is the 20th round of the season.
The three-time world champion won the sprint race for the fourth time this season at Interlagos and stood on the top step of the podium. This year, he didn’t triumph only in Azerbaijan and Qatar, where his teammate Sergio Perez and Oscar Piastre from McLaren achieved victories.
The Dutch driver was unstoppable in Sao Paulo, and he crossed the finish line with a four-second lead over McLaren driver Lando Norris. On the third step of the podium was Sergio “Checo” Perez, who was almost 10 seconds away.
It didn’t take long for Verstappen to take the first position after the start. Norris reacted faster, but the Red Bull driver attacked him in the first corner and then ran away. Not long after, the Briton was left without the second position, as George Russell brilliantly made his way past Perez and then him, but Norris retaliated in the fifth lap, and from that moment, it was clear that the second place was his. Halfway through the race, the McLaren driver managed to stay about a second behind Verstappen, but then that difference increased, and there was no excitement at the front.
Perez reached third place in the fight with Russell, and it was interesting behind them, but the Briton managed to stay in fourth position until the end. Behind them, a great battle was seen. Charles Leclerc in Ferrari was the best among the others. At the same time, Alfa Tauri driver Yuki Tsunoda made a big surprise by winning sixth place in a duel with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The last point went to Carlos Sainz Junior in the second Ferrari, and among the top ten were the other Alfa Tauri driver, Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastre, driving for McLaren.