Verstappen loses Brazil win to Hamilton after Ocon crash
Verstappen loses Brazil win to Hamilton after Ocon crash
Lewis Hamilton won the Brazilian Grand Prix to help Mercedes wrap up a fifth consecutive world constructors' title, but victory at Interlagos was snatched out of Max Verstappen's hands in a collision with a back-marking Silver Arrows junior Esteban Ocon.
Ferrari had looked like favourites for the race as they looked to keep the team championship alive, but Sebastian Vettel endured a miserable race from second on the grid and finished sixth, while Kimi Raikkonen held off a charging Daniel Ricciardo for the final podium spot.
Red Bull evidently had the pace for victory, with Verstappen blasting his way to second from fifth on the grid within 10 laps and masterful nursing of his supersoft tyres helped him eke out an opening stint that put him in position to overtake Hamilton in his second.
Lewis WINS the #BrazilGP!!!!!
We are 2018 #F1 World Constructors' Champions!!!!!
GET IN THERE!!!!! #HiFive pic.twitter.com/7HDijW0y9g — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) November 11, 2018
However, with Verstappen seemingly cruising to victory, he drove past Ocon on lap 43, only for the Force India man to try and immediately unlap himself on the same corner and sending both into a spin.
Verstappen recovered to come home second, just unable to close the gap to Hamilton, and said as he crossed the line: "I hope I can't find him in the paddock" – in reference of his fury towards Ocon, who had had branded a "fucking idiot" at the time of the incident, as well as flashing him a middle finger as he drove away from the scene.
After Hamilton's party in Mexico last time out, however, Mercedes were once again celebrating in Sao Paulo, having taken out a fifth team title in a row – only Ferrari can boast a similar run, having won six on the spin between 1999 and 2004.
Valtteri Bottas coming home in fifth meant Mercedes gained enough points on the day to make Ferrari's result immaterial.
Hamilton also took his first victory following a mid-season title win – having failed to do so in 2015 and 2017.
Charles Leclerc came home a superb seventh, having mixed it with the top six for much of the race, while Haas secured eighth and ninth though Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, with Sergio Perez taking the final point.
VIDEO: Ocon crash takes Verstappen out the lead!
VIDEO: Max gives Ocon the finger after Interlagos crash
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