Formula 1: Driver grades after the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix
DNF
DNF. What was turning out to be a dream on qualifying day quickly turned into a nightmare on race day for Marcus Ericsson. With a career-best qualifying performance that put him in sixth place on the grid, the race could not have been any worse for the Swede. His car sustained damage after he crashed into Romain Grosjean on lap one and it seemed “undrivable” before he was forced to retire after only 20 laps. What a shame!. No. 9. Alfa Romeo Sauber, Ferrari. MARCUS ERICSSON
Nico Hulkenberg was forced to retire due to mechanical failure even before making a pit stop. The team claimed that it was due to high engine temperature. This race became his first Brazilian Grand Prix without a points finish.. No. 27. Renault Sport, Renault. NICO HULKENBERG. DNF
Conclusion
The Brazilian Grand Prix was arguably one of the most entertaining races of the season. Ferrari could not keep the championship fight alive, as they failed to outscore Mercedes by 13 points. However, it was Sebastian Vettel’s sub-par performance that should have the Scuderia worried.
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Mercedes won their fifth straight constructor championship, becoming only the second team in history to do so. The Brackley-based team have now won almost three-fourths of all races in the V6 turbo hybrid era, exhibiting sheer dominance in the sport. Lewis Hamilton has won 50 out of the 99 races in this era.
Ferrari will go back home thinking about how they could have done better in the race and about how their tire strategy was key to the poor performance. Max Verstappen had a tough time in the race after having to accept second place rather than the win that he deserved more than anyone else on the grid. Red Bull Racing can, however, shift their focus to the 2019 season, when they will have a realistic chance at winning the championship given Verstappen’s great performances lately and the fact that they will have new engines from Honda, which they expect to be a game changer for them.
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Formula 1 will now head to Abu Dhabi with winners confirmed in both the constructor and driver championships. However, the third place battle in the driver championship is still up for grabs with Kimi Raikkonen leading fellow Finn Valtteri Bottas by only 14 points and Max Verstappen sitting only three points behind Bottas. There are a few other mid-field battles that will for sure bring back fans even though the championships have been decided.