The statistic that predicted Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Brazil comes to an end
Since 2017, except for 2020 due to the cancellation of the Brazilian Grand Prix following the global pandemic, the pole-sitter of the Hungarian Grand Prix has always won the Brazilian Grand Prix in the same year. However, this year Lewis Hamilton finished eighth in the race.
In 2017, four-time German world champion Sebastian Vettel secured pole position on the Hungaroring circuit, as well as victory on the same track and in Brazil. In 2018, Lewis Hamilton achieved the same results as the German in the previous season. Max Verstappen continued in the footsteps of the two world champions in 2019. He secured his first career pole position in Hungary, didn’t win the race, but emerged victorious in Brazil a few months later. Hamilton reclaimed pole position in Hungary and achieved victory in Brazil during the 2021 season. And last season, it was George Russell who secured his very first career pole in Hungary, as well as his first Formula 1 victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz also put an end to a statistic
The Spanish driver had been accustomed to securing a place on the starting grid after the qualifying session since 2018. That year, Carlos Sainz started from 8th place with his Renault. The following year, at McLaren, he qualified 7th. The Mexican Grand Prix did not take place in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the next two years, with Ferrari, he qualified 6th in 2021 and then 5th in 2022. But during the last Mexican Grand Prix, 15 days ago, Carlos Sainz achieved the second fastest time in qualifying, even though this statistic would have placed him only 4th on the race grid.
