SAO PAULO: Mercedes driver George Russell secured his maiden Formula One race victory on Sunday, beating his teammate Lewis Hamilton and a pair of Ferraris to cross the finish line first in the Brazilian Grand Prix. 

The triumph also marked Mercedes’ first GP win in 2022 after a disappointing season with seven-time world champion Hamilton coming in second in a closely contested race to make it an impressive 1-2 for the team.

The 24-year-old Briton started third on the grid behind maiden pole-sitter Kevin Magnussen of Haas and two-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull and cruised to a thrilling win in a frenzy 24-lap contest.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz rounded out the podium position followed by his teammate Charles Leclerc who earlier barged after contact with McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Verstappen, however, finished sixth after an early clash with Hamilton. He came in just behind Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and narrowly ahead of his teammate, Sergio Pérez as the late caution period help the world champion to move up from the bottom of the top 10.

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