{"id":294104,"date":"2023-11-04T08:54:17","date_gmt":"2023-11-04T08:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=294104"},"modified":"2023-11-04T08:54:17","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T08:54:17","slug":"russell-learns-brazil-gp-fate-as-verstappen-lashes-out-at-terrible-set-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/racing\/f1\/russell-learns-brazil-gp-fate-as-verstappen-lashes-out-at-terrible-set-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Russell learns Brazil GP fate as Verstappen lashes out at ‘terrible’ set up"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Brazil grand prix has already become shrouded in controversy after wild weather conditions and a chaotic qualifying stint which saw several drivers placed under investigation.<\/p>\n

British star George Russell has been caught in the thick of the action, with the Mercedes prodigy now treading on eggshells and waiting to hear the full extent of his fate before the race begins.<\/p>\n

Russell\u00a0was handed a two-place grid penalty for his involvement and later on Friday evening, Alpine duo Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon were handed the same punishment for similar offences.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen was left with his temper boiling over, with the Red Bull talisman bemoaning ‘terrible’ conditions on the team radio and urging rival stars, including Charles Leclerc, to chime in with his views.<\/p>\n

Verstappen is hot favourite to take victory in South America, though the wild stormy weather means any shock outcomes certainly cannot be ruled out.<\/p>\n

In what has been a frantic week of the track for Lewis Hamilton, the F1 living legend has conducted his business much more quietly on the circuit. Hamilton remains in the headlines regarding his ongoing battle with Felipe Massa over a historic championship title dispute, which is greatly echoed this week by the fact he is back racing in his rival’s homeland.<\/p>\n

Stay with Express Sport all day for live updates and every twist and turn from the world of F1.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Verstappen bemoans ‘terrible’ qualifying<\/h3>\n

Verstappen\u00a0clinched pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday despite punching in a lap that he believed to be ‘terrible’.<\/p>\n

Drivers faced an incoming storm as they headed out on track for Q3 at Interlagos with Verstappen setting a time that proved enough to claim pole position by just under three tenths of a second.<\/p>\n

Leclerc couldn’t add to recent pole positions in the United States and Mexico with the Monegasque driver forced to settle for a P2 finish, putting him on the front row for Sunday’s race.<\/p>\n

Speaking after securing pole in ominous conditions, Verstappen explained: “We didn\u2019t know when it would hit in qualifying, we thought it would hit. This is of course insane weather.<\/p>\n

“Charles and I were just discussing, our laps felt terrible, but I don\u2019t know, I think the wind started to change and started to be very strong and we lost a lot of lap time because of it. It was all quite hectic in the last lap.<\/p>\n