Calculating Russell puts Mercedes in 'luxury position'

George Russell managed to pull off something that almost no other driver has managed all season - getting the better of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen in a straight head-to-head battle on track.

Verstappen had managed to take the lead of the race at the start of lap 2 from pole sitter Kevin Magnussen, but Russell was soon up to second place and was hard on his heels.

Just when it looked like the Red Bull driver had managed to break out of DRS range of his pursuer, Russell suddenly piled on the pressure and closed to within half a second of Verstappen.

• Read also: Russell out-duels Verstappen to secure Brazil sprint win

Russell's first two attempts to pass his rival were comprehensively rebuffed at turn 4, but the Mercedes driver was getting closer and closer with every attempt as he calculated the rewards and risks involved.

It culminated with an impressive strike by Russell on lap 15, using DRS to close up on Verstappen into turn 4 and getting the nose of the W13 in front forcing Verstappen to yield his grip on the inside line.

Verstappen wasn't able to counter-strike and ended up being passed by Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton before the chequered flag. Russell's winning margin by that point was almost four seconds.

While not an outright Grand Prix win, the spring race victory is the 24-year-old's maiden race win in Formula 1 and earns him eight points and P1 for the start of tomorrow's Brazilian GP.

Afterwards, Russell told the media in parc ferme that it had been hard to decide on the right strategy - whether to settle for second for tomorrow's race, or gamble it all on going for gold.

“Obviously this is a sprint race and you've got to manage that risk-reward,” he said. "Even though I was dying to get that victory, I didn't want to risk it too much and end up in with no points and starting at the back.

“But we made it stick! Third time lucky," he grinned. “These last three races since Austin, the car has been feeling really great.

“I wasn't expecting to have that much pace but I think it goes to show all the hard work everybody's putting in and the progress we as a team have made."

Russell had been on soft tyres for the 24-lap race and had no trouble making them last to the finish. Verstappen was the only driver in the top ten to opt for mediums. How much of a difference that had made remains a big question.

"Obviously difficult to know how Max would have got on had he been on the soft tyres," Russell said, adding that he expected Verstappen to be “flying tomorrow”.

While Russell will be on pole, Sainz has a five place grid penalty meaning that Hamilton will be promoted to an all-Mercedes front row with Verstappen lining up in third place, which suited Russell.

"We're in a luxury position that we can maybe split the strategy and go for the win,” he said. But right now he was soaking up his race-winning success in front of a delighted crowd at Autódromo José Carlos Pace.

"Standing here is a great feeling," he beamed.

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