Bottas takes pole; Hamilton fights back

Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas celebrates after winning the sprint race on Saturday. Pic/AFP

Valtteri Bottas took pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday as teammate and world champion Lewis Hamilton endured a controversial and barnstorming day on and off the Interlagos track.

Bottas claimed pole by winning the 24-lap sprint race. World championship leader Max Verstappen will start the Grand Prix beside the Finn on the front row in his Red Bull. It was Hamilton, however, who ended the day as the chief headline maker. The seven-time world champion, who now trails Verstappen by 21 points in the title race with four events left, was relegated to the back of the grid for Saturday's sprint.

Flying run by Lewis

That was due to his disqualification from Friday qualifying, where he had been the fastest man on the track, after his car was judged to have breached technical rules. Hamilton shrugged off that setback by flying through the field from last place to finish fifth from 20th in the sprint.

‘Need to keep going'

However, he will still start Sunday's race in 10th place having already been given a five-place grid penalty for an engine change on his Mercedes. "Of course, it was devastating," Hamilton told Sky Sports of his disqualification. "But you can't let that hold you back, keep your head down, I've got to keep going."

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