ROUND 21 | SAO PAULO - BRAZIL | AUTODROMO JOSE CARLOS PACE - INTERLAGOS

The Formula 1 family arrived in Brazil for the next to last round of the 2022 Formula 1 Season, the Sao Paulo Grand Prix with both championships already decided, but with plenty other important battles to sort out.

This was the second São Paulo Grand Prix, although for the previous 47 times it was featured on the championship calendar, it was known as the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Is it the Brazilian Grand Prix or Sao Paulo Grand Prix? Since the 2021 season, the official name is Sao Paulo Grand Prix. As with the Mexico City Grand Prix, cities and local governments are taking a bigger role with substantial financial and logistics support to the races. In return, F1 has given them the name of the race to the hosting cities. This is a trend that has opened possibilities for additional races in large countries, such as the United States, now holding not only the US Grand Prix at Austin but also the Miami Grand Prix and the Las Vegas Grand Prix next year.

Formula 1 has raced at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, more generally referred to as Interlagos, 38 times. It is one of the most unusual tracks on the calendar, set in a natural bowl, between two artificial lakes, Guarapiranga and Billings, which were built in the beginning of the 20th century to supply the city with water and electricity (Interlagos meaning “between lakes” in Portuguese.) At 4.309 kilometers it is one of the shortest on the calendar, runs counterclockwise, and provides a severe test of man and machine. It features a mix of fast corners, hairpins, and gradient changes, which along with a bumpy surface makes for a particularly demanding mix. Therefore, finding the right setup is a compromise between a lot of aero downforce and as little drag as possible. Interlagos is demanding from an aerodynamic point of view, mainly because of the slow mixed middle section with its low-speed corners, while the first and third sectors favor a strong power unit to deal with straights and corners taken at full throttle. Overtaking is a definite possibility, especially in the Senna esses after the start-finish line, which is one of the DRS zones, along with another on the straight between turns 3 and 4. Turn 12, “Junção” is the key to being quick in the final sector, both on a qualifying lap and in the race if a driver has to defend or go on the attack in the braking zone for turn 1.

As was the case last year, the São Paulo Grand Prix was the final Sprint race weekend of the season which means a different timetable to usual. On Friday there was only one 1-hour free practice session before Qualifying later, instead of FP2. On Saturday, there was another free practice session and then the Sprint Race, 24 laps or around 100 Km long, with the top eight scoring points and the result deciding the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix, 71 laps, a distance of 305.879 kilometers.

FRIDAY


Since this is a Sprint Race weekend, Qualifying is done instead of FP2 on Friday afternoon, leaving just the one-hour long practice 1 to set up the cars as best as possible not only for qualifying but for the Sprint and the Grand Prix, definitely a tough challenge for all teams and drivers.

FP1

Unsurprisingly, everyone came out right away to do their installation laps, and immediately the first timed laps of the weekend with Verstappen setting the pace early on.

It was announced that Sainz was getting a five-place grid position penalty for a new ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) in his Ferrari.

And after lots of car action on track, it was Red Bull’s Sergio Perez setting the fastest lap, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, albeit with only 0.008 seconds separating the three of them.

QUALIFYING

After FP1 there was some rain around the circuit, covering the track and changing everything from the dry practice to a damped qualifying.

Q1

Cars came out with Intermediate tires and even though the track was drying fast, there were a few wet patches all over, especially the last sector, and the risk of more rain hung over. Nevertheless, times were tumbling down and top spots changed hands several times. Gasly was the first to gamble on the slicks, and even though it took a couple of laps to get some heat in the tires, it paid off by going straight to the top.

Everybody changed tires to softs and went out, but absolute calamity for Ferrari as they looked indecisive, not knowing what to do and taking a lot of time to change on both cars.

It’s been ages since we’ve had such a dramatic and thrilling Q1. Norris ended up the fastest. Latifi (Williams), Zhou (Alfa Romeo), Bottas (Alfa Romeo), Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), and Schumacher (Haas) did not go through to Q2.

Q2

Everyone was out on track on softs, trying desperately to set the fastest possible time before the rain came. With just under 7 minutes on the clock, the sky turned really dark, and some drizzle was around. But no one changed tires and came out for one final stint.

In the end, it was Verstappen the fastest, just ahead of Sainz and Leclerc in the Ferrari. Down the order, Albon (Williams), Gasly (AlphaTauri), Vettel (Aston Martin), Ricciardo (McLaren), and Stroll (Aston Martin) were eliminated and not going to Q3.

Q3

 And then there were ten, and it was dark, very dark. Raindrops over the camera lenses, but still a dry track (sort of…). And all ten drivers queue up waiting for the track to open. In the meantime, rain was announced. Charles Leclerc was the only car on Intermediates, everyone else in softs.

It didn’t pay off for Leclerc as the rain never came. Then Russell went out of the track and got stuck in the gravel trap at turn 4, bringing out the first red flag of the weekend with 8.10 minutes on the clock.

The session went green, but rain was coming out and DRS was disabled as the track was declared a Wet Track. Only Perez came out, but things did not change, then came Hamilton, but mainly to entertain the fans. And in the end, it was Kevin Magnussen getting Pole Position for Haas in Brazil. First Pole Position for Magnussen and Haas in F1. Well done K-Mag!

The final order was Kevin Magnussen (Haas), Max Verstappen (Red Bull), George Russell (Mercedes), Lando Norris (McLaren), Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), Esteban Ocon (Alpine), Fernando Alonso (Alpine), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Sergio Perez (Red Bull), and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).

Haas is the first US-owned constructor to take pole since Shadow at the 1975 British Grand Prix.

SATURDAY

Busy weekend in Brazil. This was the second practice before the Sprint Race.

FP2

American driver Logan Sargeant replaced Alex Albon at Williams for FP2, hoping to get as many Super license points as possible so he can race for the British Team next season.

After a solid session from most teams and drivers, it was Alpine’s Esteban Ocon setting the fastest lap. He was followed by Perez, Russell, Alonso, and Verstappen the Top-Five.

SPRINT

What a difference a day makes, Saturday looked so much different from the dark and wet afternoon the day before.

Only Verstappen and Latifi started in mediums, and everyone else in softs. And what a fantastic start from the K man with Verstappen defending from a feisty Russell, but by lap 3/24 Verstappen passed Magnussen and a bit later Russell passed him as well. Then it was Sainz passing him. Magnussen knew he didn’t have the car to fight them and decided on letting them by.

Unacceptable driving from Stroll against his own teammate trying to defend his 11th place. By lap 10, Vettel passed him, moving up the order.

Up ahead, Russell was now in DRS range pursuing Verstappen for the lead, and Sainz keeping an eye on them not far behind. Then on lap 12, brilliant racing from the two leaders, Russell desperate to pass Verstappen and the World Champion defending the best he could. Somewhere else on track a yellow flag as Albon’s Williams gets off track at Turn 1.

By Lap 15/24 Russell finally made it through and got passed Verstappen, taking the lead of the Sprint. Lovely driving from the Britton.

Now it was Hamilton and Sainz having a fabulous battle for third position. The Mercedes looked mighty against the Ferrari. By Lap 18, both caught Verstappen, and a lap later Sainz passed the Red Bull for second. It was now Hamilton trying to pass Verstappen but couldn’t make the move stick, until Lap 20/24.

Interestingly, the medium tires weren’t holding up as well as the Softs. Would this make a difference for Sunday’s Grand Prix?

In the end, it was George Russell winning the Sprint Race at Sao Paulo, it wasn’t his first Grand Prix victory, but it was his first win in Formula 1. Carlos Sainz finished second and Lewis Hamilton third. But it would be the two Mercedes starting from the front row on Sunday’s Grand Prix since Sainz has the grid penalty for his ICE change.

Scary moments afterwards as Esteban Ocon’s Alpine caught fire during Parc Ferme. Thankfully it was put down rather quickly by the marshals.

SUNDAY

It was sunny, a bit on the hot side, hotter than the day before during the Sprint race, meaning tire degradation would be different and thus creating an additional complication for teams and drivers to sort out. Chance of rain, practically zero…

About forty minutes before lights out the cars came out of the pit lane and into the track for their installation (and practice) laps before going to their respective grid positions.

There was some concern for Esteban Ocon’s Alpine as the team’s mechanics worked on the front of the car right on the grid. It appeared the issues from the coming together with teammate Alonso during the Sprint race continued for the French driver.

The race started with Russell leading Hamilton into Turn 1, later that same lap, Ricciardo could not stop his McLaren, touching Magnussen’s Haas, forcing him into a spin, and ending up collecting Ricciardo who crashed into the barriers at Turn 8. Both out and the Safety Car was deployed.

Safety Car ended on Lap 7/71, and racing resumed with Russell leading but Hamilton came together with Verstappen trying to defend. Then Norris punts out Leclerc! All of them were able to continue, although the order had shuffled quite considerably. Verstappen and Leclerc had to come into the pits for repairs. Hamilton’s Mercedes and Norris’ McLaren appeared to be ok.

Verstappen was given a 5-second time penalty for Causing a Collision in his incident with Hamilton. And another 5-second time penalty for Lando Norris on his incident with Leclerc. Meanwhile, Hamilton finally overtook Vettel for fifth. A lap later, Hamilton passed Norris for fourth, he seemed like a man on a mission, setting his sights for Sainz now in third.

On Lap 17/71 Vettel overtook Norris going into Turn 1, placing his Aston Martin fifth. Up front, Russell continued leading the Grand Prix while Ferrari decided to stop Sainz for new softs. And there was a tear-off stuck in the right rear brake duct, and some smoke coming out of the right rear of the car. He went from third to eleventh, promoting Hamilton to third place.

On Lap 24/71 Perez came in for a new set of Mediums, coming out sixth. The order was now Russell from Hamilton from Vettel, yes, Sebastian Vettel was now third in his Aston Martin. A lap later, Russell came into the pits. Hamilton was leading the Grand Prix. Russell came out right ahead of Vettel and was now second.

On Lap 27/71 Vettel came in for new Mediums but came out behind Gasly’s AlphaTauri and Bottas’ Alfa Romeo in ninth. Bottas got Gasly but Vettel got stuck behind him. But got him at the end of the main straight two laps later.

Hamilton finally came in for his first stop, coming out fourth, behind Sainz and ahead of Alonso, more than 25 seconds behind the Mercedes. Hamilton inherited the third place when Ferrari pitted Sainz, who came out in fourth, albeit 18 seconds behind Hamilton.

On Lap 41/71 Leclerc came behind Norris who was eight at the time and took a couple of laps for the Monegasque to overtake the Britton. Up ahead, Russell was asked if he wanted softs or medium for his last stint. Softs answered Russell. Meanwhile, Hamilton watched Perez and started trying to pass the Mexican. Beautiful driving from both of them. But Perez’s old tires were not enough to keep Hamilton behind and by Lap 45/71, it was a Mercedes 1 - 2 with Russell almost 10 seconds ahead of Hamilton. That same lap, Ferrari called Leclerc for his final pitstop. He came out in fourteenth, behind Gasly, and the hunt started again.

On Lap 48/71, Red Bull called Perez for a new set of mediums for the duration of the race. He came out in fourth, 11 seconds behind Sainz in third. A lap later, Hamilton was called into the pits and onto the soft, he went. He came ahead of Perez. The order now was Russell, Sainz, Hamilton, Perez, and Alonso the Top-Five.

Russell pitted a lap later and came just ahead of Sainz’s Ferrari. Both Mercedes on the softs and faster tires, Sainz and Perez on the mediums. Hamilton was 5.5 seconds behind them and 4.5 ahead of Perez.

On Lap 52/71 Lando Norris grinds to a halt. Yellow flags on sectors 2 and 3. A VSC was deployed a few seconds later. Sainz pitted for a new set of softs. The only one of the front runners in stopping. The order now was Russell, Hamilton, Perez, and Sainz. No points for McLaren as both cars were out of the race. A bit later, the Safety Car was deployed (Lap 55/71).

Long Safety Car, it took until Lap 60/71 for the race to resume, but no one understood why Tsunoda was seating in fifth when he really was seventeen! by the end of the lap, it was Russell, defending from Hamilton, then Perez, Sainz, and Leclerc the Top-Five. By Lap 63, Sainz finally passed Perez for third place and started his pursuit of Hamilton up ahead. A lap later, Leclerc overtook the Mexican, who now had to defend from Alonso.

Two-time World Champion and Brazilian hero Emerson Fittipaldi waved the checkered flag to George Russell who won his first Formula 1 Grand Prix in a thrilling weekend filled with drama, amazing racing, surprised winners, and not-so-happy people as well. Behind Russell, it was Lewis Hamilton in second and Carlos Sainz completing the podium. Russell also bagged the fastest lap of the race.

QUOTES FROM THE PODIUM

George Russell’s win was the 125th win for Mercedes in Formula 1.