Last weekend’s Brazillian GP was the perfect example of both the highs and lows of Formula One racing. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen emerged victorious once again, grabbing his 17th win of the season, but what marked this race was its fair share of dramatic moments, from Verstappen himself’s distraction and near-miss to Leclerc’s formation lap misfortune or even Pérez and Alonso’s battle for third place.

Verstappen’s Lap-Leading Record Grows

Sunday’s race ended with yet another win by Max Verstappen, who extended his records for most laps lead in F1, and crossed the finish line with a staggering 8.277-second lead over Lando Norris, who came in second place. However, the Dutch driver’s lead was almost not to be, as he admitted he got distracted watching the intense battle for the final spot on the podium between Peréz and Alonso, with the Aston Martin getting the better hand.

Mercedes Disappointed in Themselves

Contrasting with Red Bull’s triumphant weekend, Mercedes’ Brazil GP left a lot to be desired, with Hamilton finishing 8th place and Russel retiring, with the overall performance leaving the team deeply frustrated. Team Director Toto Wolff claimed that last weekend was the worst of his career, with a performance far below expectations followed by a series of inconsistencies lately. Lewis Hamilton also expressed his discontent and admitted he struggled hard with the car’s performance, due to issues with the car’s floor, which affected its aerodynamics and overall speed. This weekend makes us question the team’s structure and solidity and, remembering their win last year, in this very same circuit, reminds us of how far things have changed.

Ferrari’s Mechanical Misfortune

The Scuderia’s weekend was marked by mechanical issues that cost the Prancing Horse precious points for the 2023 campaign. The challenges began earlier than the race, as Sainz reported that he experienced clutch problems that prevented him from achieving a good result in Saturday’s Sprint, leading to him starting the main race from P8. The Spanish driver ended up finishing P6, around 50 seconds after Verstappen. For Leclerc, however, the weekend was far worse, as the Monegasque faced trouble regarding the car’s hydraulic system in the formation lap, leading him to retire before the race even began.

Next Stop: Nevada

As the next chapter of the 2023 season approaches, we head to Las Vegas. Reflecting on the sudden turns to success or misfortune that can occur in F1, this seems a fitting location for such a drama-filled sport. Let’s see which teams luck strikes next time.

📸 Folhapress