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Max Verstappen was especially generous in Interlagos when celebrating the second pole of his life. "It's the best birthday present, isn't it, Christian?" The Dutchman announced on the radio after his 1: 07.508, dedicated to Christian Horner, his boss at Red Bull, who blows 46 candles this Saturday. The 12 hundredths advantage over Sebastian Vettel and the 19 against Lewis Hamilton also put an end to Mercedes' hegeomony in the Brazilian GP, ​​with full 'poles' since 2014, the start date of the turbo-hybrid era.

A few minutes after getting out of the car, the unpredictable character of Verstappen came to light in the press room. When asked about this second pole, he shook his head and pulled out a hand with three fingers. "It is not the second, but the third," he snapped in reference to what happened three weeks ago in Mexico, when the commissioners snatched this privilege by not raising his foot with yellow flags.

In fact, with an exemplary behavior on volatile asphalt temperatures, the RB15 of Verstappen only had to break Hamilton's record (1: 07.281 in 2018). Mad Max could afford a 1: 07.623, the fastest of the first attempt in Q3, despite a clamorous slide in the curve 9. Eight thousandths on Vettel and two tenths on the Mercedes, who had only taught the leg during Last free session.

10 posts for Leclerc

In the final attack, the Dutchman could still scratch almost a tenth to the clock with the Honda engine that so wonderful memories offers all of Brazil. The last to score a pole with the Japanese propeller was Ayrton Senna in 1991. Its efficiency contrasted with that shown with Ferrari. "The car had potential for everything, but we failed," said Charles Leclerc, fourth ranked, but with a penalty of 10 places on the grid.

Nor could Hamilton smile too much, which already links nine races without the 'pole', since July in Hockenheim. The 4,309 kilometers of this route never seemed to please him too much, although neither should it be ruled out for Sunday. At stake his third victory in Sao Paulo, after 2016, 2018, and the eleventh of this season. Less would be worth betting on Valtteri Bottas, fifth ranked, who still seems distressed despite his recent victories in Austin and Suzuka.

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