George Russell claims São Paulo F1 GP from Lewis Hamilton for first win

• Mercedes pair take one-two, earning team’s first victory of 2022
• Verstappen gets five-second time penalty for Hamilton collision

Driven by a lifelong ambition that had begun in a pedal car, George Russell finally delivered for the kid with the big dreams in taking his first Formula One win at the São Paulo Grand Prix. Indeed, were there any doubts of the pedigree of this young man he claimed victory by holding off no lesser driver than his Mercedes teammate and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, with some magnificent pedalling.

Russell was immaculate at Interlagos, the promise he has shown in his short career emphatically confirmed with a win that means so much to him and his Mercedes team. “This is just the beginning guys,” he said, a prediction with which it is hard to argue after an outstanding performance. Head in his hands and visibly overcome he admitted: “I am going to need some tissues”, as the emotion overtook him. It was an achievement recognised sportingly by Hamilton who was second in front of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. “Huge congratulations to George, he drove an amazing race and he deserved it,” he said.

Continue reading…