Charging Hamilton passes Verstappen for crucial Brazil F1 win

Having charged from the back of the grid after his qualifying disqualification to take fifth in the Saturday sprint, Hamilton lined up 10th for Sunday’s grand prix following an engine penalty.

The seven-time world champion battled against the odds with a herculean effort to put himself into contention for victory and set up a thrilling late duel with championship rival Verstappen. 

There was a moment of controversy on Lap 48 as Hamilton was forced wide by Verstappen during a wheel-to-wheel battle at Turn 4, with the stewards deeming no investigation was necessary despite both drivers running off-track. 

Following another failed attempt into the same corner, Hamilton finally managed to sweep past Verstappen on the run to Turn 4 to snatch the lead on Lap 59. 

From there, Hamilton pulled clear to claim a convincing sixth victory of the season and reduce Verstappen’s championship lead to 14 points heading into the final three races of the season. 

Behind the battling championship contenders, Valtteri Bottas took advantage of a free pit stop under a Virtual Safety Car period to jump ahead of Sergio Perez’s Red Bull to complete the podium positions. 

Perez made an extra pit stop on the penultimate lap to deny Hamilton an additional point for setting the lap. 

Charles Leclerc led Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz home in fifth, while a late charge from Pierre Gasly saw the AlphaTauri driver pass both Alpine’s to take a strong seventh. 

Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso took eighth and ninth, while Lando Norris recovered from a first-lap puncture to claim the final point on offer for McLaren.