TheMekanic17 finished second in IMS's first D1 race, retaining the position from which he started. The result supplied 18 points and the first podium of his campaign.
Mehinovic00 converted pole into victory for Mercedes, while SomaticCoast375 recovered from sixth to complete the podium. TheMekanic's route was the least mobile of the three and the clearest: second on the grid became second at the flag.
The first D1 deficit is eight points
The opening drivers' table placed Mehinovic on 26 points and TheMekanic on 18. With no earlier IMS round to soften the comparison, Brazil made the race order and championship order identical at the top.
That did not make Red Bull second in every sense. The D1 constructors' table listed Mercedes and Red Bull level on 26 points, separating the individual defeat from the collective starting position.
Red Bull begins level while its lead driver chases
Across both divisions Red Bull scored 38 round points, second to Mercedes' 52. TheMekanic supplied the team's only podium, making his runner-up finish the central result in its opening total.
Brazil therefore left TheMekanic with a first podium, an eight-point driver deficit and a level D1 team table. Monza would test all three statements without requiring the opener to pretend it had already revealed a season.
