It's Max Verstappen vs both Mercedes-AMG drivers - Here's where the advantage lies

Coming into the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing looked the prime favourites for victory around the Interlagos circuit.

The two practice sessions and qualifying didn't go entirely the Austrian team's way, and the Sprint Race saw the Dutchman drop to fourth by the end of the 24-lap, having led since the third lap.

It's a mixed bag of fortunes for the 2022 champions, but their road to victory in Sao Paulo may have taken an unexpected turn for the worse as Mercedes-AMG emerged as favourites for Brazilian honours.

George Russell won the Sprint Race, having started in third, and teammate Lewis Hamilton carved his way up the field to third from eighth. Carlos Sainz finished the Sprint in second place, but a five-place grid penalty will see the Ferrari driver start down in seventh, promoting Hamilton to second to create the first Mercedes front-row lockout in 2022.

With the Sprint Race determining the starting grid for the actual race, Verstappen will start in third, thanks to Sainz's demotion.

Still, who is the favourite to win the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix?

Verstappen vs Mercedes-AMG

Throughout 2022, Verstappen has been in a class of his own and left the field in his wake as he sealed a second F1 World Championship. En route to the feat, he won the most races - 14 - and registered the most points in a single season - 421 points - with two races remaining.

On the other hand, Mercedes had a torrid year, but continuous car development saw them close the performance gap to Red Bull and Ferrari, so much so that they are now the second-quickest team on the grid. The turn in performance eventually came, and it first showed at the United States Grand Prix and again at the Mexican GP.

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