SAO PAULO (REUTERS) - Lewis Hamilton made the most of a new engine to beat Formula One leader Max Verstappen with the fastest lap in qualifying for the sprint race that will decide the grid for Sunday's Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Hamilton was dominant in all three phases of the Friday (Nov 12) session at the Brazilian city's Interlagos circuit, with the Mercedes driver clocking a best time of one minute 07.934 seconds. Red Bull's Dutchman Verstappen was second and 0.438 slower, a considerable margin around one of the shortest laps on the calendar. "Let's go," exclaimed Hamilton over the team radio. The Briton will have a five-place grid penalty for Sunday's main race as result of his engine change but can take three points if he wins on Saturday, with the top three scoring in a 3-2-1 system. The 100km sprint is the last of three races in the experimental format this season, with the other two being at Monza and Silverstone. At least six are expected to be scheduled for 2022. Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas was third fastest with Red Bull's Sergio Perez alongside on the second row. "Lewis was untouchable today," commented Perez. AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly starts fifth with the two Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc followed by the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo in the battle for third overall. Fernando Alonso qualified 10th for Alpine. More on this topic Related Story Formula One: Constructors' title most important, says Hamilton, who takes five-spot grid penalty Related Story Formula One: One is magic number as Verstappen ignores title talk
MONTE CARLO (AFP) - Ferrari's Charles Leclerc stormed around his hometown track with the fastest time in second free practice for the Monaco Grand Prix on Thursday (May 20) after trailing in last in the morning session. Leclerc only managed a handful of laps in the morning after gearbox problems, but under crisp blue skies showed he can't be discounted in Sunday's fifth GP of the season. It was an impressive performance from Ferrari as new boy Carlos Sainz was second fastest, with seven-time world champion and current championship leader Lewis Hamilton in third for Mercedes. Hamilton, targeting his 99th win on Sunday, leads Dutchman Max Verstappen by 14 points after four races in the chase for the drivers crown. Verstappen was hot on Hamilton's heels in the second session placing seven hundredths of a second behind him in his Red Bull. Monaco's iconic street circuit welcomed 7,500 fans to its grandstands for practice as the race returned to the schedule after a coronavirus-enforced cancellation in 2020. There will be no on-track action Friday with the next practice session on Saturday morning before qualifying. More on this topic Related Story Formula One: Leclerc hopes for better luck at home race in Monaco Related Story Motor racing: McLaren take on a retro look for return of the Monaco GP