2019 Brazilian Grand Prix

Lore & Background

The race marked the 47th time the event had been run as a World Championship event since the first championship event in 1973, and the 48th time overall. It was the first time since the 1994 German Grand Prix that two drivers scored their first podiums in Formula One. The podium trio—Verstappen, Gasly, and Sainz—were all graduates of the Red Bull Junior Team programme. Gasly's podium was the last for Toro Rosso in Formula One before the team was rebranded to Scuderia AlphaTauri for the next season.

In Their Own Story

The sky over Interlagos turned a bruised purple as the rain began to lash down, turning the track into a slippery river of asphalt. Lewis Hamilton gripped the wheel of his silver missile, his eyes scanning the mirrors for the Red Bull charging behind him. The crowd roared, a deafening wave of sound that vibrated through the chassis. 'Box, box,' the radio crackled, but the pit lane was a blur of chaos. He emerged onto the track, tires groaning against the wet tarmac, knowing one mistake meant everything. Ahead, Verstappen closed in, the gap shrinking with every lap. The tension was palpable, a physical weight in the cockpit. Hamilton held his line, defending with the precision of a man who knew history was being written right before his eyes.

Reader's Guide

The race featured a record-breaking pit stop for Verstappen at 1.82 seconds, beating the previous record of 1.88 seconds set at the 2019 German Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton received a five-second time penalty for causing a collision with Alexander Albon on lap 70, dropping him from third to seventh. This promoted Sainz to third, giving McLaren its first podium since the 2014 Australian Grand Prix. The race was the first in the turbo-hybrid era (since 2014) and the first since the 2013 United States Grand Prix where the final podium trio did not feature a Mercedes or Ferrari driver.

Did You Know?

• Carlos Sainz Jr. failed to set a Q1 time but was allowed to race at the stewards' discretion.
• The race was the first since 1991 that drivers using Honda-powered cars finished 1–2.
• Sainz's podium made him the first Spanish driver to step on the podium since Fernando Alonso finished second at the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix.
• The youngest combined podium age record was set, beating the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.

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.