Brazil always delivers crazy races – like in 2019: Sauber hopes for Interlagos magic: 22 World Cup points!

class=”sc-29f61514-0 dXbCZE”>

“Here you have to be awake every second, even if the slope seems harmless,” says the now 51-time GP winner Max Verstappen. Like a year ago when he collided with Hamilton at the start of Interlagos. Shortly afterwards, Norris and Leclerc crashed together.

What’s wrong with Aston Martin?

After the first lap, the crash duo Magnussen (Haas) and Ricciardo (McLaren) were able to put an end to it. Ultimately, Bottas scored two championship points in the Alfa-Sauber – just ahead of Stroll in the Aston Martin. A duo that met again on Sunday in a clash in Mexico.

After the major upgrade a year ago, there is suddenly an ominous feeling at Aston Martin. The team that was once considered Red Bull fighters has fallen to 5th place without a chance. In the last six races, the barely motivated Fernando Alonso and the owner’s son, Lance Stroll, scored only 21 points. At the start of the World Cup in Bahrain there were 23 points alone: ​​3rd Alonso, 6th Stroll.

World Cup over – rumors begin

Rumors are now following the ‘green’ team. Alonso gone, sale in sight. But as soon as the World Cup has been decided, the speculation train starts, like every year. Like Alfa Sauber. Audi apparently wants to wait with clear comments until the fake Alfa-Sauber comes to Abu Dhabi after five years without an Italian.

Before the Audi-Sauber adventure in 2026, there is already talk of a total of 900 people who will work in Hinwil. Now there are about 550. But simply: a clear statement from Ingolstadt about the withdrawal rumor is still lacking.

When it rained 22 points

The Sauber team had the craziest race of 2019 here in Interlagos. Not much could be expected from starting positions 8 (Räikkönen) and 12 (Giovinazzi) on November 17.

But hello! At the finish, Räikkönen was just 0.6 seconds short of Hinwiler’s first podium finish since Japan 2012 (Kobayashi). And just 0.8 seconds behind the Finn, the Italian Giovinazzi finished fifth. Good for a total of 22 World Cup points.

Hamilton penalty, Ferrari crash

At that moment, Verstappen celebrated his only success so far in Brazil. For Gasly (Toro Rosso) and Sainz in the McLaren. Hamilton crossed the finish line third, but was given a five-second time penalty for a collision with Albon and finished seventh.

Five laps before the end, both Ferraris had said goodbye to Vettel and Leclerc after an internal crash. Yes, Alfa-Sauber now needs such a ‘miracle day’ to get rid of that annoying penultimate World Cup position in the last three races.

Source : Blick