Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 5, 2023.
Amanda Perobelli | Reuters
Three-time champion Max Verstappen led from the start to win the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez finished fourth, edging out Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in one of the few events left this season – a place for runner-up.
Perez almost took the podium from Aston Martin’s third-placed Fernando Alonso, but the Spaniard saw the checkered flag 0.053s ahead of the Mexican.
The two jockeyed for position over the final three laps of the race, with the Red Bull driver passing Alonso once and then losing the position. McLaren’s Lando Norris was second at Interlago.
“For me, it was like 30 laps,” Alonso said after being chased by Perez.
Perez will leave South America 32 points ahead of Hamilton with two races remaining – Las Vegas on November 19 and Abu Dhabi a week later.
Perez started the race at Interlagos in ninth and fan favorite Hamilton in fifth after a disappointing qualifying for the Red Bull driver on Friday. He showed some improvement during the sprint race on Saturday, and later said he was more confident heading into the grand prix.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was due to start second, crashed during the formation lap before the start due to an engine problem.
A red flag after the second lap due to a collision with Haas’ Kevin Magnussen and Williams’ Alex Albon gave the Red Bull drivers more time to look for improvements.
Verstappen took his 17th win and never lost the lead, while Perez made an aggressive move to take on Hamilton. On lap 18, the Red Bull driver passed the Mercedes for fifth place, much to the dismay of the Brazilian fans who support the seven-time champion.
Formula One will race in Sao Paulo until at least 2030, organizers announced on Friday.
“The whole race was about tire management,” Verstappen said after the race. “Las Vegas will be new to everyone, full of surprises, I’m sure.”
