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George Russell (front) drove to victory in the sprint race in Brazil
Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Mercedes and Ferrari took world champion Max Verstappen by surprise – at least in the Brazil sprint.
Silver Arrow driver George Russell won the short race in São Paulo and thus secured first place on the grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday (7 p.m. CET / RTL and Sky).
The result of the sprint gives the starting grid for the main race.
In addition, there are eight points for the winner in the drivers' classification.
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz finished second ahead of record world champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes.
Verstappen was only behind.
On Sunday, however, Sainz will drop five grid positions due to a penalty.
Kevin Magnussen im Haas, who surprisingly raced to pole position on Friday, had a difficult time as expected, but in eighth place he saved an important point from the sprint for his team.
It was exactly the other way around for Mick Schumacher in the other Haas: He started last, made up eight positions, more than any other driver in the field, and finished twelfth, but he wasn't rewarded with points.
Sebastian Vettel in the Aston Martin also improved from 13th on the grid and will start ninth on Sunday.
Both German pilots can hope for points.
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