2019 Brazilian Grand Prix

Lore & Background

The race marked the first time since the 1994 German Grand Prix that two drivers scored their first podiums in Formula One. Sainz also scored McLaren's first podium since 2014, while Gasly's podium turned out to be the last for Toro Rosso in Formula One. The final podium trio did not feature a Mercedes or Ferrari driver, the first time since the 2013 United States Grand Prix and the first in the turbo-hybrid era. All three podium finishers were graduates of the Red Bull Junior Team programme. Sainz's podium made him the first Spanish driver on the podium since Fernando Alonso at the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Reader's Guide

The race featured a safety car period after Bottas retired with a hydraulics problem on lap 52, and another after a collision between Leclerc and Vettel on lap 66. During the second safety car, Mercedes pitted Hamilton for fresh soft tyres. At the restart, Hamilton made contact with Albon at turn 10, spinning Albon and earning Hamilton a five-second penalty, dropping him from third to seventh. This promoted Sainz to third, though Sainz was not present at the podium ceremony. The race set a new record for the youngest combined podium age, beating the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.

Did You Know?

• Sainz's podium was McLaren's first since the 2014 Australian Grand Prix.
• Gasly's podium was the last for Scuderia Toro Rosso before it was rebranded to AlphaTauri.

Team Restructuring and Vehicle Debut

Following a fifth-place finish in the previous year, Mercedes undertook significant structural changes before the 2013 campaign began. Team principal Ross Brawn reorganized engineering roles to improve performance after their maiden victory at the Chinese Grand Prix the prior season. Key recruits included Aldo Costa from Ferrari and Mike Elliott from Lotus F1, while Geoff Willis joined from HRT. A major leadership shift occurred when Norbert Haug departed as Vice President of Motorsport.

He was succeeded by Toto Wolff, who transitioned from an executive role at Williams to lead Mercedes. The new W04 chassis was unveiled on February 4th in Jerez. Drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton were present for the reveal. Hamilton had joined after Michael Schumacher retired, while Rosberg entered his fourth season with the squad.

These personnel adjustments laid the groundwork for a competitive vehicle designed to challenge the established order of Formula One during that specific racing year.

Early Season Tyre Struggles

The W04 encountered significant challenges regarding tyre management early in its competitive life. Despite securing multiple pole positions and podiums within the first five events, the car struggled with durability on Pirelli compounds. This supplier was already facing scrutiny for delicate structures and narrow operating windows, which highlighted the Mercedes vehicle's inherent flaws. Nico Rosberg exemplified this inconsistency; he qualified on pole in Bahrain and Spain but finished ninth and sixth respectively due to degradation issues.

The situation improved at Monaco where both drivers locked out the front row again. However, tyre failures remained a threat, as seen later at Silverstone. Hamilton suffered a left-rear failure while leading the British Grand Prix on lap eight. Felipe Massa experienced a similar issue, and Jean-Éric Vergne had an explosion that triggered a safety car. These mechanical struggles defined much of the season's narrative for the German manufacturer.

Championship Victories and Consistency

Mid-season races provided redemption and crucial points in the championship standings. The British Grand Prix saw Hamilton take pole but retire due to tyre failure, allowing Rosberg to win by a narrow margin over Mark Webber. Hungary marked Hamilton's first triumph for the team as he managed his tyres effectively from pole position, though Rosberg retired for the final time that year. In Belgium, Hamilton secured another pole, yet Sebastian Vettel dominated the race, leaving the Mercedes drivers in third and fourth places. Later races in India and Abu Dhabi yielded podium finishes despite difficulties in Singapore, Korea, and Japan where Hamilton recorded his first retirement. These results ensured the team maintained second place in the championship standings heading into the final rounds of the calendar year.

Historical Legacy and Auction Value

The season concluded with a dramatic finale at Brazil that solidified Mercedes' Constructors Championship position. Hamilton was running fourth but collided while lapping Valtteri Bottas, causing a puncture and a drive-through penalty that dropped him out of the points. He recovered to ninth place, while Rosberg finished fifth. This combined effort secured second place in the Constructors' Championship, marking a massive leap from their fifth-place finish in 2012.

The car featured new sponsorship from BlackBerry for the first time, with Primax co-branding appearing in Malaysia. Decades later, the chassis gained historical significance. In November 2023, Hamilton's Hungarian victory car sold for US$18.8 million at auction, becoming the second most expensive F1 car ever sold. Finally, in December 2024, Hamilton drove this model one last time at Silverstone to conclude his partnership with Mercedes.