Lewis Hamilton won the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after a close battle with his rival Max Verstappen in a thrilling return to Brazil for F1. Verstappen finished the race as runner-up.

Hamilton started from P10, five places down from an engine penalty, and took charge by taking second place from Perez on Lap 17 through 19. Fast forward to Lap 48, Hamilton tried to overtake Verstappen by moving around the outside, but to no avail. He then tried again on Lap 58, still keeping behind the stubborn Verstappen. Verstappen showed such stoic defense, but that didn’t stop Hamilton. Hamilton was within a second of Verstappen at turn 4, both vying for that checkered flag. Hamilton had DRS (Drag Reduction System: the DRS opens an adjustable flap on the rear wing of the car, in order to reduce drag, giving a pursuing car an overtaking advantage over the car in front, being Verstappen.) He made it count, allowing him a victory by 10.4 seconds. Verstappen finished 2nd, and Hamilton’s fellow Mercedes driver, Vaitteri Bottas, took 3rd, failing to overtake Verstappen at the end. 

In the F1 Standings, Verstappen is in the lead with 332.5 points, Hamilton with 318.5, and Bottas with 203. With only 3 more races in the season, Verstappen and Hamilton are neck-and-neck, and who will win it all is still in question.