Max Verstappen claimed another comprehensive victory in the Sprint at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The reigning world champion took the lead at the start and didn’t look back as he wrapped up his seventh win in the format.
Lando Norris recovered from a poor opening lap to claim second as Sergio Perez rounded out the top three in the second Red Bull
Sprint Review
Verstappen made a great start from P2 to take the lead into Turn 1 while Russell made bold moves on Sergio Perez and Norris to take P2 on the opening lap.
Lewis Hamilton also overtook Perez at Turn 4, but the Mexican would get back ahead two laps later when DRS was enabled.
Likewise, Norris undid some of the Lap 1 damage by reclaiming second from Russell with a nice move into the Senna S.
Further down, the two Ferraris each gained a place ahead of the AlphaTauris as Oscar Piastri completed the top 10.
Next on Perez’s radar was Russell in third with the pair swapping places in consecutive DRS zones before Checo eventually made a definitive move into Turn 1.
The main action shifted to a DRS train headed by Sainz in the final points position in P8.
His first pretender was Daniel Ricciardo who made two great moves on the Spaniard but couldn’t maintain the place on the run to Descida do Lago.
That allowed Piastri to capitalise with an opportunistic move on his fellow Aussie into Laranjinha for P9.
Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly had a great duel at the back of the train with the Spaniard getting the better of the Alpine to sit P11.
Entering the closing laps, Hamilton came under pressure with Charles Leclerc and Yuki Tsunoda breezing past the Mercedes on the main straight.
The newer tyres on the AlphaTauris saw Ricciardo also come strong late on, passing Piastri for P9.
At the front, however, it was an easy win for Verstappen by four seconds over Norris with Perez completing the podium.
Russell followed in fourth Leclerc held on to fifth but sixth was still three crucial points for Tsunoda and AlphaTauri.
Hamilton was seventh as Sainz pipped Ricciardo by less than two-tenths over the line to take the final point in eighth.
Piastri claimed 10th keeping Alonso at bay in 11th with Lance Stroll gaining five places upto 12th.
Gasly and Esteban Ocon sat 13th and 14th for Alpine, followed by Alex Albon in 15th.
The big losers were Haas as a medium tyre gamble failed and Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg dropped to 16th and 18th.
Zhou Guanyu was 17th, Valtteri Bottas in 19th and Logan Sargeant brought up the rear in 20th.
