F1
Max delivers sensational pit lane to podium charge in Brazil
Read the full race report and reactions from The Team.
Max delivered another Brazilian masterclass, charging from the pit lane to the podium at the end of a thrilling São Paulo Grand Prix won by McLaren’s Lando Norris, with Mercedes Kimi Antonelli in second place.
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"An incredible result coming from the Pitlane"
After a disappointing qualifying session left the champion 16th on the grid for the race, the Team opted to change the power unit of Max’s RB21 and make set-up changes to give him a car to fight with on Sunday.
For most drivers a battle back to the points would be reward enough, but when you’re Max more is always possible and from the moment the lights went out and incidents began to work in his favour, another sizzling São Paulo Sunday from the champion was always on the cards.
The Signature Colours Of Autódromo José Carlos Pace
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Polesitter Lando got away quickest at the start of the race and he comfortably took the lead ahead of Kimi, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri.
Further back, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton tangled with Williams’ Carlos Sainz and when the Ferrari driver was forced wide at Turn 1, Yuki was able to power through from 18th on the grid to 14th. At the back of the field, Max was already making his way forward slotting into 17th place.
The incidents weren’t over, however. Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto clashed with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and the Brazilian home favourite was sent into the barriers.
The Safety Car was deployed. That was the cue for Yuki to make a pit stop and the Japanese driver swapped his starting Hard tyres and emerged at the back of the pack on Medium tyres.
Yuki Keeping Up The Pace
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Then, when racing resumed, Oscar went on the offensive. The McLaren driver made a late-braking lunge at P2 man Kimi but he locked up and bounced the Mercedes into the side of Charles’ Ferrari. The Monegasque driver lost a wheel and after limping to a run-off area was forced to retire from the race.
As Oscar slipped through to second place ahead of Kimi, the Virtual Safety Car was deployed and that was the cue for Max to pit. The champion had climbed to P13 after the restart, but GP was quickly on the radio to tell his driver that he’d picked up a slow puncture and he needed to pit for a set of Medium tyres.
Another drop to the rear of the field might have defeated others but when the VSC ended, Max again began to storm through the pack, passing Lewis on lap 13 and then passing Yuki.
Following the VSC, Yuki was handed a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Aston Martin’s Lanco Stroll. Up ahead, Oscar was also hit with a 10s penalty for the collision with Kimi.
Max, meanwhile, was continuing to charge up the order. On lap 17 he powered past Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg and on the following lap breezed past Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. A clutch of Soft tyres starters pitting ahead of him vaulted the Dutchman inside the top 10 and then, when Alex Albon chose not to resist a lap 21 move, the champion hit the top-five for the first time.
In And Out Of The Pits
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Yuki headed for the pit lane from P8 at the end of lap 24 and after serving his penalty and fitting another set of Medium tyres he emerged in last place, 16s behind Lewis. However, he was swiftly noted for not serving the penalty correctly and was frustratingly handed another 10-second penalty.
At the front, Lando was looking comfortable and by lap 29 he had carved out a 6.2s lead over Oscar who needed to pit and serve his penalty. Kimi had pitted and George was now third, 7.7s off the back of the Australian’s car and just six seconds ahead of Max.
Lando made his first stop at the end of lap 30 and after fitting a set of Soft tyres, the championship leader rejoined in fourth, a second behind Max. He was soon past the Dutchman, who did not resist the McLaren’s greater grip and pace and then on lap 34, Max made his second next stop, for another set of Medium tyres.
Over the following 10 laps, all of Max’s front-running rivals, including Lando, headed in for a second stop and with the tyre switches apparently complete, the Dutchman was improbably, out front.
I never thought I’d be saying this Max, but from the pit lane you are now the race leader...
“I never thought I’d be saying this Max, but from the pit lane you are now the race leader,” GP informed his driver.
“Not bad,” came the stoic reply.
Charging Through At Max Speed
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The Dutchman’s tyres were beginning to fade, however, and with Lando closing in, the Team made the bold choice to pit Max and at the end of lap 54 the Team pushed the button on a final, Soft-tyre charge to the flag.
He emerged in P4, 5.6s behind Russell and 13.5s off race leader Lando. Within 10 laps, the gap to George was down to nothing and at the start of lap 63 he went the long way round the outside of the Mercedes into Turn 1 to climb back to a podium place.
Kimi was the next target. Max crept closer with every passing lap and on lap 68 he clawed his way into DRS range.
The Dutchman’s Soft tyres were screaming, however and after sliding wide twice in Turn 3 it looked like the chance was gone. Kimi though handed Max one last shot on the final lap by sliding at Turn 4 and although the Dutchman powered right up to the back of the Mercedes, he couldn’t win the race to the flag and crossed the line in P3, just 0.362s behind the Italian.
I had to overtake some cars, coming from the pit lane, but yeah, to be on the podium from the pit lane, I didn’t expect that at all...
“The race was quite full on – a lot of action!” Max said afterwards. “I had to overtake some cars, coming from the pit lane, but yeah, to be on the podium from the pit lane, I didn’t expect that at all – even with a puncture as well in the beginning of the race, that’s why we had to box again. Incredible result for us, very happy with that and just very proud of everyone within the Team as well. I mean, yesterday was very tough for us, but, you know, we never give up. We always try to improve and try to find more lap time. And luckily, we found that again today.”
Behind the top three, George held on to fourth place ahead of Oscar, while Ollie Bearman put in another impressive performance to take sixth place for Haas. It was a good race too for VCARB, with Liam Lawson crossing the line in P7 ahead of team-mate Isack Hadjar. Ninth place went to Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg and the final point went to Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
From Pitlane To Podium! Simply Lovely Max!
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Max’s second place and a double DNF for Ferrari means that for the first time since the Monaco Grand Prix in May the team is back in third place in the Constructors’ Championship. Mercedes are now second on 398 points and we now have 366 points, four more than Ferrari who slipped from second to fourth.
In the Drivers’ title race, Lando continues to lead, with 390 points. Max has gained on second-placed Oscar, however, and he is now just a race win behind the Australian with three rounds and single Sprint weekend remaining.