Sao Paulo Grand Prix: Podium Example

The Brazilian race opens the last of this year’s series of two stages in a row. Less than two weeks until the end of the second ever season of 22 Grand Prix, in which all remaining questions will be answered.

In the battle for the title, everything is decided, but local battles remain – Ferrari and Mercedes for second in the Constructors’ Championship, Alpine and McLaren for fourth. But if for the latter pair this battle is fundamental, then for Mercedes and Ferrari any place other than the first will not be an achievement, and the second position will limit the working time in the wind tunnel compared to the third. Both teams are looking to make the most of this time against a backdrop of restrictions at Red Bull – both for winning the Constructors’ Championship and a further 10% for cost overruns last season.

The battle for positions six to nine between Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Haas and AlphaTauri continues, but is random in nature – luckier ones celebrate success.

The last races are always interesting, if only because you don’t want to give up Formula 1 for three winter months.

Since last year, the Brazilian stage has been titled Sao Paulo Grand Prix – just like in Mexico, it proved easier to find funding at the local level than at the state level. And there are fewer agreements, and taxes, and intermediaries.

And if the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo is always about to be canceled for a number of reasons, then the Sao Paulo Grand Prix is ​​quite a successful stage. It’s not respectable given the remaining favelas around the circuit, but the Brazilian public is no less emotional than the Mexican and understands Formula 1 better.

It’s a shame there are no more Brazilian drivers in the championship, but this requires either a wealthy patron or the support of a big company or team. And better than both. The Brazilians are sixth in the number of appealing racers in Formula 1 and third in the number of titles, second only to the British and Germans.

Brazilian drivers have competed in this race since the first Brazilian Grand Prix. Emerson Fittipaldi, his brother Wilson and José Carlos Pase, after whom the Interlagos circuit is named, were replaced by Ayrton Senna and Nelson Pique, followed by Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa. In 2018, this series was interrupted – and not yet continued.

Enzo Fittipaldi is usually associated with the return of Brazil, but the example of Mick Schumacher clearly shows that one name is not enough. But this year’s Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovic, a youth program participant and Aston Martin reserve driver, will take the wheel next Friday in Abu Dhabi and temporarily replace Lance Stroll. Too bad there are no real vacancies in this team.

For the second year in a row, the organizers will hold the Grand Prix in the sprint format on Saturday. And while this format still seems artificial, it suits some weekends quite well.

How the weekend in Sao Paulo went last year, when Lewis Hamilton won qualifying but was disqualified – during the technical check of the car, the distance between the elements of the open DRS on the right side of the wing was found to be 0.2 millimeters more exceeded the allowed 85mm, then was fined for engine replacement and eventually won the race, having regained 24 positions over the weekend.

After a boring train in Mexico, the Brazilian stage will certainly be interesting.