Russell won the F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the first win of his career, by leading a Mercedes 1-2 ahead of Hamilto♓n.

Team orders were issued for the teammates to “race but be re♛spectful” with the finish line in sight.

• F1 2022 Sa🦄o Paulo Grand Prix - Full Race results from Round 21
• F1 standings 2022: World Championship points afte𝓰r the 2022 Sao Paulo GP

Russell said: “There was a moment in 🍌the race when I looked in my mirrors and s🐟aw Lewis…

“I realised: ‘I just need to look forward now - the o⭕nly way I win this race is if I🐽 look ahead, drive as fast as I can, and make no mistakes’.”

Asked if he was 🥃surprised by Mercedes orders to race his teammate, Russell said: “Yes and no. We have al✤ways said that we are free to race.

“Toto Wolff and the team put a lot of trust and fai🧸th into Lewis and I.

“We’ve had a few side-by-side moments and it’s always ಞbeen respectful. We have huge respect for each other.

“I just wanted to understand our position. Because I knew how important the 1-2 was for the team. So if we weren’t racing, then bring the car home. If we were? Every lap, risk at every corner, because the laps have to be perfe🐈ct.

“I was happy to win it this way.”

Russell won Saturday’s sprint race then, from pole position, won Sꦓunday’s race at Interlagos to give Mercedes their first win of the 2022 season at the penultimate opportunity.

“So many emotions,” he ꦆreflected. “I have dreamt of this moment many times. You never know how it will pan out.

“The race was ℱwell-managed. Everything was under control. I knew𓆉 how quick Lewis was.

“I put together a st൩rong string of laps, very few mistakes. The pressure Lewis put me under was immense!

“I knew that having Lewis alongside me, and Maꦏx in my mirrors, it would not be a straightforward race. But I ꧙believed.”

Red Bull’s 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen has won back-to-back ♛titles, and clashed with old rival Hamilton at Interlagos.

Mercedes’ improving performances and Russell’s victory hav𒈔e teed up a fascinating title battle next season.

Hamilton said: “This is a massive boost to the whole team’s morale. We are still th𓄧e best team. ꩵWe will get back to being more consistent next year. I am excited for that battle.”

Russell: “If this is what Lewis and I are capable of w🍷hen the car is suboptimal, who knows what we can achieve.

“We lost so much time trying to solve the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:porpoising issues. That 💟really hurt our development. This is why we are seein⛄g a jump in performance. Because we are no longer focused on porpoising - we are focused on performance.”