Martin Brundle blown away by ‘amazing’ driver’s start in Brazil after chaotic first corner crash

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McLaren driver Lando Norris was the main beneficiary of one of the most chaotic starts seen in Formula 1 for some time in Brazil.

Commentating on the race for Sky Sports F1, Martin Brundle admired the 23-year-old’s launch as he avoided all the trouble around him.

The luck of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc continues to baffle Formula 1 fans as he didn’t even get the chance to challenge Max Verstappen into turn one.

His hydraulics failed on the formation lap seeing him careen into the barriers halfway around the tracks.

It left a spot on the front row of the grid next to Verstappen, but neither Aston Martin could take advantage.

They were both bogged down at the start and Lando Norris flew down the inside to take second place in Brazil.

Lewis Hamilton also leapfrogged the two Aston Martins to take third, but the start was neutralised just moments later.

Chaos ensued in the middle of the pack with two cars left out of the race on the track and several other drivers nursing damage.

Norris gets amazing start in Brazil

Reflecting on a mad beginning to the race, Brundle said: “The 200m run-up initially to the first corner is a bit like a tunnel without a roof on it.

“There’s not much room to breathe either side, so this kind of contact we’ve seen in the past.

“[Lando] Norris got an amazing launch, unlike yesterday actually and immediately went up to second place.

“That’s key for him for the rest of the race.”

British racing driver Alice Powell echoed Brundle’s thought and said: “Lando Norris, wow what a start!

“He wasn’t even on his brand new set of softs and he powered up down the inside of pretty much all those in front of him bar Max Verstappen.”

Norris will hope to make the most of his amazing start in Brazil to challenge Verstappen once again.

He’s one of the in-form drivers on the grid and in a very quick car, however, he’s still looking for that elusive first F1 victory.

Interlagos was the location of his close friend George Russell’s first win last year.

How we would love to emulate that success this afternoon with a quarter of the field already out of the race or dealing with damage.