Russell sprint win sets up Mercedes v Red Bull showdown at Interlagos

Russell sprint win sets up Mercedes v Red Bull showdown at Interlagos

SAO PAULO (AFP) – A delighted George Russell won Saturday’s breathless sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix to register his first Formula One race win and set up a thrilling Mercedes v Red Bull showdown in Sunday’s full distance contest.

Driving with aplomb and confidence, the 24-year-old Briton shrugged off his spin in the rain in Friday’s qualifying session to attack from the start, passing Red Bull’s two-time champion Max Verstappen on lap 15 to grab the lead.

He then took control to come home four seconds clear of Carlos Sainz of Ferrari with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton third and Verstappen, the only driver on medium tyres, fourth and Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez fifth.

As Sainz is set to take a five-place grid penalty for taking a new engine, Mercedes will lock out the front row of the grid on Sunday – if an investigation into a possible starting procedure infringement by Hamilton is not penalised.

"It was incredible," said Russell. "I wasn’t expecting to have that much pace, but I think it goes to show the hard work everyone is putting in and the progress we have made in these last few races.

“The car has been feeling so great. Obviously, it’s difficult to know how Max would have got on it he had been on the soft tyres – instead of mediums – but nevertheless it’s a great feeling.

“It’s crazy to think we are both starting from the front row. Lewis did a great job after starting P8, but I’m sure Max is going to be flying tomorrow, but we are in a luxurious position and maybe we can split our strategy to go for a win.”

It was Mercedes’ first win this year, albeit it in a sprint race, and gives them a perfect opportunity to claim their first Grand Prix victory of the season if they can overcome a slight tyres disadvantage.

Verstappen and Red Bull will start with two sets of soft tyres available while Mercedes have only one, having taken an extra set for the sprint race, and will need to use a set of ‘scrubbed’ softs.

The Dutchman, however, was not convinced that he can find the pace to overhaul the revived ‘silver arrows’ and claim a record-increasing 15th win of the season.

“Today, it didn’t work out somehow, but even on soft tyres, I was too slow,” he said. “We have way too much degradation here, so we have to analyse it and see what we can do.

“At the end of the day, if you have so much degradation, it doesn’t matter what tyres you put on.”

Hamilton, expecting to start alongside Russell in an all-Mercedes front row, said: “Wow, it has been such an incredible week and I am so happy to be here.

“It is an amazing result for us to be on the front row. It’s incredible! From there, we should be able to work as a team and hold off the guys behind us.

“We will try hard and if we can have some good degradation, hopefully some good weather and a fight, it will be great. And a win here for Brazil would be incredible!”

Hamilton was officially granted Brazilian citizenship earlier this week and is seeking a win to preserve his record of winning at least once in every season of his career.

Russell, in his 81st Grand Prix weekend, started third on the grid behind maiden pole-sitter Kevin Magnussen of Haas and Verstappen of Red Bull, but powered to a thrilling triumph in a breathless 24-lap contest.

Verstappen, who passed Magnussen at the start of lap three, was the only front-runner on medium tyres and was unable to resist Russell’s pace and then fell back to fourth after a brush with Sainz.

He finished ahead of Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari.

‘Let’s go!’

"That’s how we roll, baby," said a delighted Russell on team radio. "That’s how we roll! Very nicely done. Big points for tomorrow – let’s go."

His win was Mercedes’ first success this season.

Russell earned eight points for his win with Sainz taking seven and Hamilton, subject to any penalty, six. "Mega job guys," said Hamilton. "Congratulations to George – that’s awesome."