P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes conceded that the decision to overrule George Russell and make a pit stop right before the F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix was red-flagged was a mistake.
George Russell started from the front row and took the lead from Lando Norris at the beginning of the race, with both McLaren and Mercedes crews deciding to pit for fresh Intermediates on Lap 28 as the weather worsened. Unfortunately, a red flag brought by Franco Colapinto’s crash on Lap 32 shuffled the grid, leaving Russell in fourth behind Verstappen and the Alpine drivers who did not pit. Russell expressed frustration with himself for not following his instincts like he did in Belgium earlier in the season. Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin admitted that they would have managed the race differently in hindsight, citing the critical role of the timing of a Virtual Safety Car influenced their pit strategy. Ultimately, the gamble to pit under the circumstances did not pay off for Russell, who missed out on a podium finish at the F1 Brazil GP.
