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Formula 1 gets a new winner as Mercedes revival continues

We’ve gone for one of our green covers this week to congratulate George Russell on his first world championship Formula 1 grand prix victory. It was obvious before he even got to F1 that Russell had the qualities to reach the top, winning in every category on his way up, and his success in Brazil last weekend was brilliantly taken, with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton close behind.

The event (including the sprint the day before) was an entertaining one, underlining the fact that F1 is better when Mercedes can mix it with Red Bull and Ferrari at the front. More of the same in 2023, please!

Not quite so wonderful was another clash between Max Verstappen and Hamilton. Most in the Autosport offi ce wouldn’t have given the Red Bull driver a penalty, but it is now clear that he races the seven-time world champion differently to the other drivers on the grid. It was a bold move and, given the history between them, Verstappen can’t have been surprised that he ran out of room. Or shouldn’t have been.

Hamilton now plays hardball given that Verstappen never gives him any space. That’s fair enough, but the time has come for them to reach some sort of understanding. If they do end up battling for the 2023 title it would be a shame for the contest to be ruined by the sort of accidents that became tedious last season. Such clashes could also hurt both of them if Russell and Charles Leclerc are there to pick up the pieces…

Russell is the 113th driver to win a world championship race and is also our third Young Driver Award victor to take an F1 success. Look out for the winner of the 2022 edition in the 8 December issue.

Kevin Turner Chief Editor kevin.turner@autosport.com

NEXT WEEK 24 NOVEMBER F1 2022 comes to a close Can Verstappen extend his wins record in the Abu Dhabi GP finale?

COVER IMAGES Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

PIT & PADDOCK 4 Red Bull conflict as Max defies orders 7 Toyota elects not to build new Hypercar 8 Tandy back to Porsche for LMDh attack 11 Fittipaldi at Carlin as Red Bull junior 13 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix preview 15 Opinion: Alex Kalinauckas 16 Guest column: Jake Hill 17 Feedback: your letters

RACE CENTRE 18 Sao Paulo GP report and analysis 34 Hyundai spoils Toyota’s WRC party 40 WEC: Ferrari holds on for GTE title 46 World of Sport: WTCR; World Rallycross

CLUB AUTOSPORT 55 Dunne to step up to GB3 with Hitech 56 Avon brand set to disappear 58 Doble handed GT5 title a er appeal 61 Opinion: Stephen Lickorish 62 National reports: Brands Hatch; Anglesey 66 Rise and fall of the Ginetta GT4 Supercup

FINISHING STRAIGHT 70 What’s on this week 72 From the archive: 1956 British GP 74 My favourite team-mate: Gil de Ferran

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17 NOVEMBER 2022 AUTOSPORT.COM 3