For its third and final consecutive Grand Prix weekend, Formula 1 is in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This GP is the 21st out of 24 this season and the 1122nd in the history of the sport. On the program, there was a free practice session and qualifying for the sprint race this Friday. On Saturday, the sprint race and classic qualifying will take place and the weekend will end with the Grand Prix this Sunday.
This Friday, we learned that Max Verstappen would receive a five-place penalty on Sunday’s grid for an engine change on his Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) will drive this Saturday afternoon on the Interlagos circuit with Ayrton Senna’s McLaren MP4/5B. As a reminder, the Brazilian, who died 30 years ago, won his second driver’s title with this car in 1990.
As for the 4.309 kilometer, 15-turn track, it has been completely resurfaced for the Grand Prix which runs counterclockwise. At Haas, Kevin Magnussen is ill and is replaced by Oliver Bearman, who will also be driver for the American team in 2025. The young 19-year-old Briton will drive at least until after the sprint race and, if Magnussen does not go better, he will also take part in qualifying and the GP. For its part, Aston Martin has decided to put back the flat bottom used at Suzuka, the Grand Prix contested in April, on its single-seaters.
Free practice
The only free practice session this weekend took place under the sun. Very quickly, Oscar Piastri took the lead of the session with his McLaren before being overtaken by his teammate Lando Norris. A few moments later, George Russell (Mercedes) set the provisional best time.
After ten minutes, Sergio Pérez, who had a disappointing Grand Prix at home in Mexico and who has a new chassis on his Red Bull, took first place. However, George Russell took the lead again shortly after. But it was brief, because Max Verstappen quickly set a better time than the Briton.
Twenty minutes from the checkered flag, George Russell once again took first position. Ten minutes later, Franco Colapinto, who lost his grandfather during the night from Thursday to Friday, put in a good lap with his Williams and provisionally placed second.
At the very end of the session, Lando Norris set the best time of the session in 1’10”610. He was ahead of George Russell and Oliver Bearman, who had a good session. Oscar Piastri finished fourth ahead of Alexander Albon (Williams), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari). Nico Hülkenberg (Haas), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine) completed the top 10. Quebecer Lance Stroll finished 17th. For the full ranking, click here.
Sprint race qualifying
For qualifying for the sprint race, the weather was very cloudy. During the first segment, the drivers all had to run on medium tires. No incidents occurred and at the end of SQ1 Lando Norris was fastest ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri. For their part, Guanyu Zhou (Sauber), Lance Stroll, Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls), Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Fernando Alonso were less happy, because they failed to qualify for the second segment.
During this one, the wind was much more present and the remaining drivers had to ride again on medium tires. SQ2 was undisturbed and Lando Norris once again finished in the lead. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber), Franco Colapinto, Sergio Pérez, Nico Hülkenberg and Lewis Hamilton were eliminated.
At the start of the third segment, the two McLarens rushed to take to the track. The 10 remaining drivers all had to use soft tires and Lando Norris immediately set a superb time. At the very end of SQ3, Oscar Piastri took the lead with a best time of 1’08’899.
The Australian will therefore start from pole position for the sprint race. He will start ahead of Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. George Russell will start from sixth place. He will be ahead of Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) and Alexander Albon. Oliver Bearman will start from tenth position. For the full ranking, click here.
The sprint race will take place this Saturday at 11 a.m. local time (10 a.m. Quebec time) and qualifying will take place at 3 p.m. local time (2 p.m. Quebec time).
