Lewis Hamilton has won the Brazilian Grand Prix, his 71th triumph of his carrear, this Sunday at the Interlagos Circuit (Sao Paulo) ahead of Max Verstappen, who lost the race after crashing with Esteban Ocon. Kimi Raikkonen completed the podium saving Ferrari´s honour.

With its 10th 2018 victory, Mercedes seals its fifth consecutive Constructors’ Title (2014-2018) much to the disappointment of the Maranello team. A bad race for the Spaniards too, both drivers finishing well away from the points. With just one more race to go and the Drivers’ Title already decided in favour of Hamilton, the race at the legendary Jose Carlos Pace Circuit has not been any less exciting.

The action begins: Hamilton escapes

Lewis Hamilton kept his first position after the green light, while Sebastian Vettel lost his second place to a strangely daring Valtteri Bottas at the the Brazilian Grand Prix. The German driver’s performance has been hampered by his choice of soft tires, less adherent than the super-soft rubber of his opponents.

Kimi Raikkonen and Max Verstappen retained their fourth and fifth places, respectively. And Charles Leclerc (Alfa Romeo Sauber) also held on to his surprising and brilliant sixth starting position. 

Despite starting eleventh, a sensational Daniel Ricciardo climbed up to ninth in the blink of an eye. The Spaniards also managed to go up a couple of places at that early stage of the Brazilian Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz got into thirteenth and Fernando Alonso into fifteenth place.

Taking advantage of the battle unfolding behind him, Hamilton was able to open some ground with the rest. Soon he was .805 seconds ahead of his team-mate Bottas. Behind them came a pack made up of a blustering Verstappen along with Raikkonen, Vettel and Ricciardo. That’s right, the Australian from Red Bull was already in position by the seventh lap.

At this stage of the race, the Italian cars were suffering from their medium-compound tyres, unable to keep up with the rhythm set by their opponents. After lap number ten at the the Brazilian Grand Prix, however, things started to change. 

Six laps later, Alonso entered an appalling, over 9 seconds’ long, pit stop. Apparently, the nut on the right rear wheel was not fixed properly. Their thorough checks prevented the Spaniard from rejoining the race in time to continue any meaningful fight.  The few hopes Alonso had placed on the Brazilian Grand Prix were gone.

First stops for Mercedes and Ferrari

Suffering from their usual blistering issues, and to prevent these from getting any worse, Mercedes ordered Hamilton to change his tyres on lap 19 and Bottas went in just after that. Verstappen then inherited the lead ahead of Raikkonen’s Ferrari (7.620 seconds) and Vettel.

The #44 Silver Arrow, rejoined the action in sixth position, starting a battle in the distance for the victory with a very spirited Verstappen, then on the lead. They both were the main candidates to the crown at that point. 

Eight laps later and after stretching their stint for as long as possible, Ferrari sent Vettel to boxes, and a couple of laps later did the same with Kimi. Comfortably installed at the top, Verstappen kept the lead chased by Ricciardo, Hamilton, Leclerc and Bottas at the the Brazilian Grand Prix.

One of the key moments came with the #33 Red Bull’s pit stop at Turn 36. Mad Max came up from boxes in third position and once his teammate Ricciardo had gone through pits, the Dutchman found himself right behind Hamilton, who was again on the lead.

On fresher tyres, he stuck himself to the back of Hamilton’s Mercedes before overtaking him and reclaiming the first place once more. The rhythm of the Dutch driver seemed unattainable for the silver arrows at the at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

A crash robs Max of his crown

After the accident, which had damaged the floor of his car, Verstappen was pushed back 5,226 seconds behind the Briton. With bloodshot eyes in anger, a very frustrated ‘Mad’ Max attempted to catch Lewis in vain.

Further back, the race was also taking some exciting turns. Ricciardo had passed Vettel in turn 49 and did the same with Bottas soon after. The Aussie driver, fourth, had smelled the blood and was chasing Kimi for the third position.

On the last few metres before the finish line, Verstappen was already quite close to Hamilton in front him and to Raikkonen behind, positions that they would keep until the end at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Mercedes, Constructors’ Champion

This is Hamilton’s 72nd victory in Formula 1 at the same time as he delivered the fifth-consecutive Constructors’ Title, to the Star team. Behind him came a very angry, Verstappen, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen at the the Brazilian Grand Prix. In fourth place from an eleventh starting position came Ricciardo. The fifth place was for Bottas and sixth came a very Sebastien Vettel.

For the Spaniards, it was a day to forget. Sainz got the twelfth place and his friend Alonso, finished five positions below that. The Brazilian Grand Prix has not been kind to our compatriots, we can only hope they give us some joy at the closing race in Abu Dhabi.

Main image: Mercedes AMG F1.