Brazilian Grand Prix - Interlagos

[René]

Race number three of the American triple header is a true classic. The Interlagos circuit near São Paulo always provides a spectacle and given the current balance of power, that is even guaranteed!





It is no longer Red Bull that dominates, but McLaren and Ferrari who have the fastest car with Mercedes as the outsider. And it will be extra difficult for Max because he will certainly receive a grid penalty in Brazil for a PU change, which he managed to avoid in Mexico. Previously, a sixth or seventh starting position would not have been such a problem for Verstappen, but the race pace of the Red Bull is not good so it will probably not be an easy Sunday afternoon.



If Norris wants to have any chance of winning the title, anything less than a win will not be enough. But Ferrari will not care because they are focusing on the Constructors' title, which is a very realistic goal given the last few races. Not an easy task for Lando.



Classic Ferrari vs McLaren at Interlagos. Will we see that again this coming sunday?

[robmarsh]

Should be a brilliant race.

[René]

There is speculation buzzing around that Brazil will be Perez's last race at Red Bull... and he will be replaced by Franco Colapinto!

[robmarsh]

and Red Bull's bank will be USD15 million less 

[René]

Oct 31, 2024 9:53:41 GMT robmarsh said:

and Red Bull's bank will be USD15 million less 

True, but scoring no points and dropping down the order in the Constructors championship is also money lost.

And Colapinto has certainly stimulated corporate interest in F1 in Argentina. The Argentines have always loved Formula 1 and a new star would create a lot of excitement.

Who would have thought. Franco was good but he didn't immediately set the world on fire in the lower classes. But with some drivers it just clicks in Formula 1 and Colapinto seems to be one of those.

Others win everything in the lower classes and stumble in F1, like Jan Magnussen and also Jos Verstappen. And still others win everything in the lower classes and continue that line in F1, like Leclerc and Russell. You can never predict it completely in advance.

[robmarsh]

I agree with you Rene.  I just liked the thought of Red Bull having to spend more money trying to fix things and proving that their much vaunted Red Bull academy hasn't worked. I would not miss Red Bull if they left F1. I certainly wouldn't miss Horner, Marko and Verstappen snr.

[René]

Nov 1, 2024 10:12:44 GMT robmarsh said:

I agree with you Rene.  I just liked the thought of Red Bull having to spend more money trying to fix things and proving that their much vaunted Red Bull academy hasn't worked. I would not miss Red Bull if they left F1. I certainly wouldn't miss Horner, Marko and Verstappen snr.

Then we’re completely on the same page.

[René]

Lando Norris fastest in FP1. We’re in a sprint weekend so this was basically the only free practice session.
Strong showing from Bearman who stands in for Magnussen. But difficult to know how representative these times are. 
As expected, Verstappen will take a five place grid penalty for Sunday’s race. 



Times

1 Lando NORRIS McLaren 1:10.610
2 George RUSSELL Mercedes +0.181
3 Oliver BEARMAN Haas+0.195
4 Oscar PIASTRI McLaren +0.340
5 Alexander ALBON Williams +0.345
6 Charles LECLERC Ferrari +0.428
7 Carlos SAINZ Ferrari +0.490
8 Nico HULKENBERG Haas +0.514
9 Fernando ALONSO Aston Martin +0.605
10 Pierre GASLY Alpine +0.606
11 Liam LAWSON RB +0.691
12 Yuki TSUNODA RB +0.873
13 Franco COLAPINTO Williams +1.009
14 Valtteri BOTTAS Sauber +1.041
15 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull+1.102
16 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes +1.144
17 Lance STROLL Aston Martin +1.173
18 Esteban OCON Alpine +1.217
19 Sergio PEREZ Red Bull +1.235
20 ZHOU Guanyu Sauber +2.273

[René]

McLaren look the team to beat with a front row lockout. Oscar surprised Lando to grab pole with a last minute attempt. Great lap though. Charles in third and Max fourth. Should be fireworks. 

Great showing again from Oliver Bearman. A small mistake left him in tenth but his P5 in Q2 and thus reaching Q3 puts qualy specialist Hülkenberg in his place. Ollie is fast. And Lawson again much faster than Tsunoda.



Sprint qualifying classification

1 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:08.899
2 Lando Norris McLaren +0.029
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.254
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.320
5 Carlos Sainz Ferrari +0.358
6 George Russell Mercedes +0.544
7 Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.723
8 Liam Lawson VCARB +1.042
9 Alexander Albon Williams +1.179
10 Oliver Bearman Haas F1 Team NO TIME
11 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:09.941
12 Nico Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team +0.023
13 Sergio Perez Red Bull +0.083
14 Franco Colapinto Williams +0.334
15 Valtteri Bottas Kick Sauber +0.654
16 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:10.978
17 Esteban Ocon Alpine +0.074
18 Yuki Tsunoda VCARB +0.143
19 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.302
20 Zhou Guanyu Kick Sauber +2.000

[chrisb]

there is an interview with Jochen Mass in this months MS and his views why younger drivers are so quick are interesting-

I do like Interlagos - a proper circuit with proper fans, It is one of those circuits you just want to drive yourself, 

It would be good if Lando does win, and the championship remains open to discussion 

Am quite enjoying the spat between Damon and MV - as it feels like Damon is really echoing what a lot of us are feeling. 

[René]

Drama in Brazil!

Wow, what a weekend so far! A one-two finish for McLaren in the Sprint with Verstappen demoted from third to fourth.



And then the qualifying on Sunday morning, what a chaos but what an opportunity for Lando who will start from pole while Verstappen will have to start from P17.
Many crashes but super results for Yuki, Liam and Esteban. The race will most likely also be run in the rain so anything can happen. It remains to be seen if all cars are repaired in time though.

The grid:

1 Lando Norris 1:23.405
2 George Russell +0.173

3 Yuki Tsunoda +0.709
4 Esteban Ocon +1.070

5 Liam Lawson +1.079
6 Charles Leclerc +1.120

7 Alex Albon +1.252
8 Oscar Piastri +1.281

9 Fernando Alonso +5.593
10 Lance Stroll no time

11 Valtteri Bottas 1:26.472
12 Max Verstappen 1:27.771

13 Sergio Perez 1:28.158
14 Carlos Sainz 1:29.406

15 Pierre Gasly 1:29.614
16 Lewis Hamilton 1:31.150

17 Oliver Bearman 1:31.229
18 Franco Colapinto 1:31.270

19 Nico Hulkenberg 1:31.623
20 Zhou Guanyu 1:32.263

[René]

Latest news; Alex Albon will not start the race. His car has too much damage to be repaired in time.

[Carl]

At a wet Interlagos, my thoughts eventually turn to this defining save by a teenage driver 

(click on "Watch on Youtube")

[René]

Agreed Carl. Man, that was some drive from Max Verstappen! I have to admit, as not his biggest fan, that this was an epic drive to a well deserved win. And without a doubt a fourth World Championship. Congrats Max. 



Great to see both Alpine boys on the podium. 

[mikael]

Racing in such conditions separates the wheat from the chaff. While Verstappen as a person appears rough, as a driver he really is head and shoulders above the rest in these years. So, he will be a most deserving World Champion - there's no doubt about it.

Soon a four-times World Champion; yes, he really does deserve to be in this unique league.