Carlos Sainz Jr. has inherited his maiden Formula 1 podium, and McLaren’s in over five years, following a post-race penalty for Lewis Hamilton in Brazil.
Hamilton collided with Red Bull’s Alexander Albon through Interlagos’ Bico de Pato complex on the penultimate lap as they contested second position.
Hamilton classified third, behind winner Max Verstappen and Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly, and accepted blame in the immediate aftermath.
Stewards summoned both Hamilton and Albon and deemed that the newly-crowned World Champion was responsible, handing him a five-second penalty.
Hamilton’s sanction relegated him from third to seventh, in turn promoting Sainz Jr. to the lowest step of the podium.
Stewards deemed that Albon “was on his normal race line. Hamilton attempted to pass on the inside, but was unable to get far enough inside to accomplish the overtake.
“By the time he realised there would not be sufficient room he was unable to back out of the situation and the collision followed.”
It elevates Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi to fourth and fifth respectively, with Daniel Ricciardo sixth.
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