Sao Paulo: Dutch Formula One driver Max Verstappen, with the Red Bull team has won the Brazilian Grand Prix, the next-to-last contest in the world F1 season.
He came ahead of France’s Pierre Gasly, with Toro Rosso, and Spain’s Carlos Sainz, who made it into third place after Britain’s six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, with Mercedes, who had originally come in third, received a five-second penalty for a collision.
Sainz, driving for McLaren, had originally come in fourth after starting the race in the last position in the 20-car contest on Sunday.
Verstappen - who had secured the coveted pole position in the qualifying time trials on Saturday - was first across the finish line on the 4.309 km (2.67 mi.) Interlagos raceway in Sao Paulo after an intense battle with Hamilton, who fought hard for the win but could not prevail and was knocked back to cross the finish line in third place, reports Efe news.
However, Hamilton lost that position because he made contact with Thailand’s Alexander Albon, a situation that was reviewed with the result that the Briton was penalized five seconds, thus depriving him of the podium finish. IANS