F1 Brazilian Grand Prix 2022 result: Highlights and analysis as Russell takes first victory in Formula One in Sao Paulo

Nathan Evans

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F1 Brazilian Grand Prix 2022 result: Highlights and analysis as Russell takes first victory in Formula One in Sao Paulo image

George Russell took his first race victory in Formula One at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix in a race that delivered action, drama and overtakes in equal measure. 

On a special day for Mercedes, who have largely struggled so far this season, Russell's teammate, Lewis Hamilton, came home in P2 as the German team closed out the top of the standings. 

The race had seen Hamilton and Max Verstappen renew rivalries as the pair collided heading into the second corner on the opening lap. As a result, the newly crowned two-time world champion suffered extensive front wing damage and was handed a five-second penalty in the process. 

Hamilton recovered well, claiming P2 come the end of the race to record his 191st career podium. 

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz rounded out the podium places with a fantastic recovery drive from P7 on the grid, whilst Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll all picked up points.  

MORE: F1 Brazilian Grand Prix Sprint: Russell wins the final Sprint race of the season in Sao Paulo

F1 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix results

Position Driver Team Points
1 George Russell Mercedes 26
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 18
3 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 15
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 12
5 Fernando Alonso Alpine 10
6 Max Verstappen Red Bull 9
7 Sergio Perez Red Bull 6
8 Esteban Ocon Alpine 4
9 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo 2
10 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 1
11 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin  
12 Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo  
13 Mick Schumacher Haas  
14 Pierre Gasly AlphaTuari  
15 Alex Albon Williams  
16 Nicholas Latifi Williams  
17 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri  
DNF Kevin Magnussen Haas  
DNF Daniel Ricciardo McLaren  
DNF Lando Norris McLaren  

Russell simply unstoppable in Sao Paulo

After Kevin Magnussen took a shock qualifying win to start the weekend, the following days quickly become the George Russell show as the British driver first secured the Sprint Race victory and followed it up with his first full race win in Formula One. 

In between the various safety car outings, Russell stayed cool under pressure to fight off the advances of teammate Lewis Hamilton, who finished in P2.

That meant it was a long overdue first win of the season for Mercedes – and the fact it came in the form of a one-two will have made it even more sweeter.

Verstappen and Hamilton collide on the opening lap

It was like 2021 all over again when the first lap and second corner of the race saw last year's world championship title rivals, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, collide. 

Trying to come around the outside, Verstappen came to the apex of the first corner ahead of the Brit but Hamilton fought back to take the slight edge into the second corner.

That left no room for Verstappen, who made contact with the side of the Mercedes car and was handed a five-second penalty by the stewards as a result. The Dutchman eventually fought back to finish in P6.  

Alpine steal a march on McLaren in the constructors battle

When Alpine teammates Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso made contact twice in the same lap during the Sprint Race on Saturday, the French team would have been expecting a tough race ahead.

Their two drivers begun in P15 and P16 respectively as a result, but with two fantastic recovery drives - especially from Alonso - Alpine instead ended the day with 14 points in the bag. 

That will have proved an even better feeling given that both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, failed to reach the end of the Grand Prix. Advantage Alpine for fourth spot in the constructors championship. 

F1 Brazilian Grand Prix 2022 live updates, highlights from Sao Paulo: As it happens

CHEQUERED FLAG: Russell wins the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix!!! The 24-year-old fights off the pressure from teammate Hamilton to take the first full race win of his career. A simply perfect drive from start to finish from the pole sitter.  

Lap 68: It's going to go down to the wire between Russell and Hamilton. There's only a 1.3 second gap between the pair.

Lap 64: Leclerc and Alonso now both overtake Perez. What a disaster of a restart for the Mexican driver this is. 

Lap 63: It's absolutely vital that Russell builds a gap to Hamilton in P2. He's currently just over one second ahead.

Behind, Sainz gets past Perez for P3 whilst Verstappen overtakes both Bottas and Ocon at the same corner!

Lap 61: There's a huge battle between Perez and Sainz for P3 and just behind them, Leclerc is on the scene. The man from Monaco could grab a very unlikely podium finish here! 

Lap 59: We're back racing under green flag conditions and it's a quick start from Russell. He gets away from his teammate for now. 

Lap 55: Russell asks if it'll be team orders or not at this restart.

'Racing but be respectful' is the response. Interesting! 

Lap 54: It's upgraded to a full safety car with the marshals unable to roll Norris' car away.

That could be big news for Sainz who just pitted for soft tyres and came back out in P4. 

Lap 51: Norris is out of this race after losing power. Virtual safety car is out. 

Lap 49: Perez pits and then a lap later Hamilton pits in response. Russell comes in a lap further down the line as well and comes back out just in the lead.

So it's Russell from Sainz, Hamilton and Perez with 20 laps to go. 

Lap 47: After a few mid table pit stops, Verstappen is back up to P6 after the disruption of his first lap collision with Hamilton. 

Lap 46: Hamilton gets past Perez and it's a one-two for Mercedes as of now. Hamilton will now look to hunt down his teammate who sits 10 seconds further up the road. 

Lap 44: Hamilton is now breathing down the neck of Perez to make it a Mercedes one-two in this race. 

Lap 41: At the very front then, Russell still leads with a 7.7 second gap to Perez in P2. We don't want to jinx him but that seems like a very strong lead to hold halfway through this race. 

Lap 37: Sainz pits again, this time onto medium tyres to get to the end of this race. He rejoins the action in P4 after Hamilton is promoted up to P3. 

Lap 34: Verstappen up into P15 after serving his five-second penalty and overtaking Tsunoda. 

It's starting to get dark around Interlagos... some rain would definitely spice this race up even more. 

Lap 30: Hamilton boxes onto a set of medium tyres. Could that hint at a one stop this afternoon?

He's gone 30 laps on softs for reference. He comes out behind Russell, Perez and Sainz in P4. 

Lap 28: One to watch here, Alonso who pitted very early, is now up into P6 after getting past Bottas.

It's definitely going far better for the veteran today compared to yesterday! 

Lap 24: Perez pits from second but comes back out down in P6. That's a bit of a pain for him but he pulls a lovely move to sweep around the outside of Bottas. 

Russell comes straight in on the next lap and remains infant of the Mexican driver. Hamilton now leads for now. 

Lap 22: Sainz has pitted and gets a few positions back with lovely overtakes on Albon, Stroll and Schumacher in consecutive laps. 

The Spaniard needs this pace to make sure Hamilton stays behind him after his own first pit. 

Lap 18: The first flurry of pit stops begin and Alonso and Zhou Guanyu switch tyres. 

Back on the race track, Vettel passes Norris for P5. 

Lap 15: Hamilton gets past Vettel and Norris in consecutive laps and finds himself in P4. He's only nine seconds off the lead.. 

Lap 13: It's a five-second penalty for Verstappen. That's an interesting decision from the stewards..


Norris also gets a five-second penalty for his contact with Leclerc. 

 

Lap 11: So Verstappen and Leclerc have pitted but Hamilton has stayed out and has already made a few places back to jump back up into P6. 

Vettel is just ahead of him. The German will love to keep him at bay for as long as he can. 

Lap 9: So it's Russell from Perez and Sainz. Hamilton, Verstappen and Leclerc all continue. 

I'll let you decide who was at fault out there..

Lap 7: We're back under way here in Brazil after the racetrack has been cleared of all the debris from that collision between Ricciardo and Magnussen.

Russell keeps his lead but Verstappen and Hamilton collide!!!! Norris also nocks Leclerc off the track as well!!! Unbelievable.  

LIGHTS OUT: We're underway here in São Paulo and it's Russell who leads! It was a great start from the Mercedes pair and also for Lando Norris who jumps Leclerc into P5. 

The safety car is out though as Ricciardo and Magnussen collide. Both are out of this race. 

2 mins to lights out: We're off for the formation lap ahead of the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix! 

15 minutes to lights out: The drivers are heading to the front of the grid for the national anthem. Not long left now until we go racing at the Brazilian Grand Prix!

A late note that AlphaTauri's Yuki Tsunoda will start this race from the pit lane after changing wing parts from a different specification this morning. 

30 minutes until lights out: A quick happy birthday to McLaren's Lando Norris as well who turns 23 today. 

He's been outstanding throughout this season, beating his teammate Daniel Ricciardo by sizeable margins most weekends. Overall, the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix will be his 81st Grand Prix and with 417 career points to his name already, you've got to fancy his chances of being a world champion one day. 

45 minutes until lights out: A big chance for Mercedes to record their first win of the season then, but an even bigger opportunity for Russell to claim vital ground in the drivers championship where he still has a very slim chance of finishing either second or third.

As it stands ahead of this race:

2nd - Perez on 284 points
3rd - Leclerc on 278 points
4th - Russell on 239 points
5th - Hamilton on 222 points

More importantly, he'll be desperate to finish above his esteemed teammate during his first season with the German team even if he won't admit it!

1 hour until lights out: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Brazilian Grand Prix 2022 starting grid

Position Driver
1 George Russell
2 Lewis Hamilton
3 Max Verstappen
4 Sergio Perez
5 Charles Leclerc
6 Lando Norris
7 Carlos Sainz*
8 Kevin Magnussen
9 Sebastian Vettel
10 Pierre Gasly
11 Daniel Ricciardo
12 Mick Schumacher
13 Zhou Guanyu
14 Valtteri Bottas
15 Yuki Tsunoda
16 Lance Stroll
17 Esteban Ocon
18 Fernando Alonso*
19 Nicholas Latifi
20 Alex Albon

*denotes grid-place penalty

How to watch F1 in the United States

  • Race: Brazilian Grand Prix.
  • Date: Sunday, Nov 13.
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: fuboTV

The ESPN family of networks will broadcast all 2022 F1 races in the United States using Sky Sports' feed, with select races airing on ABC. You can also stream Formula 1 races live in the U.S. with fuboTV, which offers a free trial.

ESPN Deportes serves as the exclusive Spanish-language home for all 2022 F1 races in the U.S.

How to watch Formula 1 in Canada

  • TV channel: TSN (English); RDS (French)
  • Live stream: TSN Direct

For fans in Canada, TSN will carry the English-language telecast of races. For those looking for the French-language broadcast, RDS will have you covered.

Races can also be streamed via TSN's streaming service, TSN Direct.

How to watch Formula 1 in the UK

  • TV channel: Sky Sports F1
  • Live stream: Sky Go / NOW TV

Viewers in the United Kingdom can catch all F1 action on Sky Sports F1, the dedicated F1 channel. For viewers planning to live stream F1 in 2022, Sky subscribers can view on the Sky Go app or you can purchase a Sky Sports Pass on NOW TV.

How to watch Formula 1 in Australia

  • TV channel: Fox Sports; Channel 10
  • Live stream: Kayo

Fox Sports will carry all races in Australia, with Channel 10 broadcasting the United States Grand Prix. Fans can also live stream on subscription service. Kayo

Nathan Evans

Nathan Evans Photo

A Sports Journalism Masters graduate, Nathan Evans joined The Sporting News in 2022 after working at Opta/Stats Perform for six years. He's an avid fan of Bradford City, FC Köln and the Pittsburgh Penguins.