SHANGHAI, CHINA – APRIL 19: Max Verstappen, from the Netherlands, driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 on track during the Sprint Qualifying before the Formula 1 Grand Prix of China at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 19, 2024 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
An enraged Max is a formidable Max!! Indeed, the Red Bull star who overtook Hamilton for the lead on lap 9/19, established a 13-second advantage in just ten laps!!
It was a disappointing day for McLaren and Lando Norris, who lost the lead after a clash on the first lap with Lewis Hamilton. The McLaren driver went off track and dropped to seventh place. Unfortunately, he was unable to recover from this setback.
Hamilton was aiming for victory in the Sprint, taking the lead and keeping Fernando Alonso at bay. However, Verstappen was moving through the pack effortlessly.
Midway through the race, Verstappen took the lead from his old title rival, who had to settle for second place. Verstappen then pulled away from the competition, while Alonso struggled and lost ground in a battle with Carlos Sainz. Alonso suffered a tire puncture and was forced to retire from the Sprint.
Sergio Perez took advantage of the clashes happening ahead of him. While Alonso and Sainz were busy with their battle, Perez overtook both drivers and secured third place.
The top finishers of the #F1Sprint season are here 👀 #F1 #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/Fts0blJb22
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 20, 2024
Report in progress…
Unlike the rainy conditions that characterized the Sprint Qualifying, the Sprint Race took place in dry weather. The track temperature reached 27 degrees Celsius, while the air temperature was at 20 degrees.
Most drivers opted for the medium tires (some used them), except for Russell, who took a gamble on the soft tires in hopes of gaining positions at the start.
Norris and Hamilton, starting on the front row, had new sets of medium tires put on their cars.
An intense start saw Hamilton attacking Norris, who subsequently went off track and dropped to seventh place. Meanwhile, Alonso moved up to second place, with Verstappen right behind in third.
LAP 1/19
Hamilton and Norris duel into Turns 1 and 2 before Norris goes off track and drops to P6 #F1Sprint #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/BoAShdcHYh
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 20, 2024
In tabloid format, the on-track action unfolded rapidly. Sainz wasted no time and launched an attack, determined to challenge Verstappen for third place. Meanwhile, Leclerc was right on Perez’s tail, with the McLaren cars also in pursuit.
Russell, starting on the soft tires, hoped to gain a few positions but ended up dropping to 12th place. Zhou managed to move up one position to ninth, while Magnussen dropped to tenth and Bottas to 11th.
By the third lap of 19, Sainz showed no signs of giving up, applying relentless pressure on Verstappen, who was just over a second behind the top two. Alonso, within DRS range of Hamilton, was also in the mix.
Verstappen, puzzled by his drained battery, contacted his engineer for advice. He was instructed to switch to “mode 8”. The change seemed to have a magical effect, as Verstappen quickly became the fastest driver on the track. He closed the gap to Alonso and Hamilton, pulling away from Sainz in the process.
On the fourth lap, Russell made impressive progress, overtaking Magnussen and entering the top ten. Despite the wear on his soft tires, he managed to hold his position for now.
Sainz faced increasing pressure on the fifth lap, as Perez closed in from behind in fifth place. Leclerc, not far behind, was within the DRS zone of the Mexican driver.
By the seventh lap, Verstappen was just 0.587s behind Alonso, setting the stage for a fierce battle for second place. The three-time F1 champion was determined to make up for his disappointing qualifying performance.
In an exciting moment captured on video, Verstappen made a bold overtake on Alonso at Turn 14, moving up to second place. Now, he had his sights set on Hamilton, who was struggling with the handling of his car in low-speed corners.
Behind the top three, a train of cars formed, with Sainz leading the way, followed by Perez, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Zhou, and Russell.
On the ninth lap, Hamilton made a mistake, locking up his brakes. Verstappen seized the opportunity and closed in to less than half a second behind the reigning champion. The scent of victory was in the air.
Despite receiving information from his engineers, Hamilton ignored them, determined to handle the situation on his own. However, there was little he could do when Verstappen overtook him at the end of the lap, taking the lead.
Verstappen’s unstoppable driving was a sight to behold, leaving his rivals impressed. Now, he was comfortably in first place, ready to dominate the race.
On the 10th lap out of 19, the current order is as follows: Verstappen is in the lead, followed by Hamilton, Alonso, Sainz, Perez, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Zhou, and Russell. Verstappen quickly establishes a significant advantage over Hamilton, distancing himself from any potential threat of the DRS system. He is over two seconds ahead of the seven-time F1 champion. Meanwhile, Alonso is forced to defend his position against his compatriot Sainz, who is within the DRS zone and aggressively chasing the third position.
On the 12th lap, Sainz makes a braking error and now needs to keep an eye on the mirrors for Perez, while Alonso gains a little breathing room. The battle between Perez and Sainz intensifies on the 13th lap, with both drivers benefiting from the DRS advantage. However, the Red Bull driver demonstrates superior pace. On the 14th lap, Leclerc reports a power issue, mentioning “reduction”. However, he manages to close the gap to Perez, and Norris also enters the DRS zone of Ferrari #16.
Alonso impressively defends his position against Sainz and the chasing pack on the 15th lap. Perez, on the other hand, complains about lack of traction while being part of the DRS train. On the 16th lap, Sainz resumes his pursuit of Alonso, while Perez struggles to hold off Leclerc.
After a remarkable defense from Alonso, Perez seizes the opportunity and overtakes both drivers, moving up to third place. Sainz also manages to pass Alonso, who is subsequently overtaken by Leclerc. Unfortunately, Alonso’s race comes to an end when he goes to the pits due to a puncture caused by contact with Sainz.
On the 17th lap, the order is as follows: Verstappen, Hamilton, Perez, Leclerc, Sainz, Norris, Piastri, and Russell. On the 18th lap, the two Ferrari drivers engage in a fierce battle, with Leclerc expressing his dissatisfaction with his teammate’s actions in the corner.
In the end, Verstappen crosses the finish line 13 seconds ahead of Hamilton in second place, with Perez securing third position.
© 2024
A new record was set in the world of motor sports. Last weekend, Brazilian driver Pedro Silva claimed victory in the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which took place at the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo.
With an impressive performance, Silva surpassed all his opponents and crossed the finish line in first place. This was the Brazilian driver’s first victory in the top category of world motorsport.
The race was marked by a lot of excitement and incredible overtakes. Silva showcased all his skill and determination in overcoming challenges and securing the win for Brazil.
The Brazilian fans turned out in full force to support the driver, creating a festive atmosphere in the stands. Silva’s victory was celebrated with much excitement and pride by all the Brazilians present.
With this result, Pedro Silva solidifies himself as one of the top drivers of the present time. His victory in the Formula 1 Grand Prix is a historic milestone for Brazilian motorsport and an example of resilience and talent.
The next stage of the Formula 1 World Championship will take place next month, and sports fans are already eager to see what Pedro Silva will do on the tracks. Will he be able to maintain the pace and secure another victory? Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Brazilians celebrate Silva’s achievement and hope he continues to shine in future races. The driver has shown that he has the potential to achieve great feats and represent Brazil with a lot of determination and grit. The nation is proud of its new champion.
