More than half of the <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/04/how-does-a-sprint-race-in-formula-1-work-in-2022/" title="How does a sprint race in Formula 1 work in 2022?”>Brazilian Grand Prix was still to be driven, and a supposed calm had returned to the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos. During one of the many interruptions in this chaotic wet race, the drivers were chugging along the wet asphalt behind the safety car when suddenly Franco Colapinto slammed into the barriers. The impact was violent, many parts of his Williams flew through the air: red flag, stoppage after 32 laps, everyone had to go to the pits until the track was clear again.
At that moment, Esteban Ocon was leading Max Verstappen and his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly. And even if you didn’t hear anything or see anything, Verstappen would have at least mentally cheered and cheered. Because after a dark weekend, the Dutchman suddenly looked forward to glamor and glory. His worst rival in the title fight, Lando Norris, stated on the radio the decisive advantage that Verstappen received from the Colapinto crash: “I guess now there’s a tire change for free.” No tactics, no losing, Verstappen could get fresh tires in peace and quiet have it mounted on his Red Bull. When the Formula 1 race continued, he rewarded a tough comeback from 17th place on the grid with his eighth win of the season. After his triumphant run, he was a whopping 19.4 seconds ahead at the finish. He last won in Spain in June.
Formula 1
:Verstappen under cross-examination
Before the Brazilian Grand Prix, the verbal attacks on the world champion are getting sharper. The impression is becoming more and more solid that it is no longer just about the Formula 1 title. But a battle of good against evil.
And then shouts and cheers could clearly be heard. “What an incredible race, simply wonderful!” said Verstappen. In the World Cup, Norris was recently able to shorten the gap to him – now Verstappen has increased it again. The 27-year-old has collected 393 points, McLaren driver Norris has 331 points after his sixth place in Brazil. There are still three races left. “My emotions today, it was a real roller coaster ride,” said Verstappen, who had accumulated a lot of anger in São Paulo, which had now fizzled out. “I knew it would be a tough race. But we made the right decisions and flew.” He could secure his fourth title early at the upcoming stop in Las Vegas in three weeks. Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko said on Sky: “Max was in a world of his own.”
The fact that the two Alpine riders, second-placed Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, were also presented with trophies on the podium made it clear what an unusual race had come to an end. The dramaturgy had a lot to do with the rain that pelted from the dark sky this weekend.
Lando Norris once again botches the start from pole position
It rained so much that the qualification had to be postponed from Saturday to Sunday morning. This had only happened five times before in the premier class of motorsport. Before qualifying was over, there were five interruptions following serious accidents. Which led to a line-up so mixed it’s worth listing: Norris took the top starting spot for the seventh time this season ahead of George Russell in the Mercedes, followed by Yuki Tsunoda from Red Bull’s sister team Racing Bulls and Esteban Ocon. Formula 1 newcomer Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) came fifth, followed by Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. Verstappen didn’t get past twelfth place; in the chaos of the accident, when a red flag came out at an inopportune moment, he couldn’t make another attempt. And because his engine had to be changed, he was moved back five more places.
That fit the bill: in the sprint on Saturday he was given a five-second penalty and one penalty point by the race stewards because he accelerated too quickly during the restart in a late Virtual Safety Car phase. This meant he lost his third place and was unable to win in the short version of the Grand Prix for the first time this season; the Dutchman had won all four previous sprints. On the other hand, Norris was successful because his teammate Oscar Piastri let him overtake shortly before the end, and reduced the gap in the title race to 44 points.
Because the forecast later predicted heavy rainfall again, the race on Sunday was brought forward by an hour and a half. The rain took a break at the start, but things continued chaotically. On the formation lap, Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin slipped away and spun into the barriers. When Stroll wanted to return to the track, he chose off-road instead of asphalt – and got stuck in the gravel. There was an aborted start to recover Stroll’s car and a second formation lap, incorrectly initiated by Norris. The Brit was probably paying attention to a traffic light in front of him instead of the big lights above him. The lights in front of him went out, the ones above him still glowed red. Some drivers therefore stopped, others followed his McLaren, the rule violation had no immediate consequence – other than a shortening of the total distance from 71 to 69 laps.
About 20 minutes later than planned, accompanied by the first raindrops, things finally really started. Nobody got stranded in the gravel bed, nobody looked at the wrong traffic light. Which didn’t help Norris either. As has so often happened before, a Grand Prix began with a problem for the 24-year-old: he couldn’t really make the most of the advantage of the front position; Russell won the start. And his title rival? He wasted no time in catching up: on the tenth lap, Verstappen was already tenth after an impressive series of overtaking maneuvers, first through the middle of the straight, then on the outside of the track.
After 22 laps – the rain had long since become heavier and the cars were trailing a cloud of spray behind them – Verstappen had fought his way up to Charles Leclerc, he almost caught him quickly too, but he didn’t want to risk an accident. Perhaps the three-time world champion sensed that the next opportunity would soon arise. Three laps later the time had come: Leclerc turned off to change tires, which meant Verstappen was fifth. The rain became heavier and the risk of accidents increased. The German Nico Hülkenberg went off the track with his Haas on the 27th lap, which brought the virtual safety car into action. Soon afterwards, Norris and Russell also got fresh tires. Ocon now led the Grand Prix with an eight-second lead over Verstappen, followed by Russell and Norris.
A scene with symbolic power: Norris brakes – and has to move into the run-off zone
So much water had collected on the asphalt, for safety reasons the safety car moved out on lap 30 and gathered the cars behind them at a more moderate pace. Annoying for Norris, who had recently overtaken Russell and was on the verge of extending his championship lead. But then Colapinto had an accident and the crash occurred, which changed everything.
When the 33rd lap continued with a flying start at 2:04 p.m. local time, Verstappen lurked aggressively behind Ocon. But the Frenchman wasn’t satisfied with the role of easy prey, he evaded the red bull, while further back Norris made the next mistake that allowed Russell to get past. Just as the tires were really warmed up again, the yellow flag waved again. Carlos Sainz crashed his Ferrari on the 39th lap and was eliminated, like a total of four drivers. The German Nico Hülkenberg also had to pull out early. The safety car came out, which brought the field together again. And this time when the track was opened, Ocon had no chance of escape. After 43 hard laps, Verstappen moved to the front of the field and pulled away.
Suddenly the balance of power over the weekend was reversed – and Norris also provided the appropriate symbolic scene: In the duel with Leclerc, he braked, had to swerve into the run-off zone and slipped backwards. Lando Norris could no longer free himself, while Max Verstappen at the front delivered one fastest lap after the other in a display of his top-class driving skills, 17 in total. The world champion impressively reminded us that he has the strongest nerves in the title fight.
