Formula One heads to Sao Paulo this weekend amid local unrest for the second-to-last race of the 2022 season. With both championships in hand, there is still much left up for grabs in Brazil.
While the Latin American country roils from the outcome of a contentious national election, with protests across Brazil including in the city of Sao Paulo, the sports governing body has indicated that it is full steam ahead for the Brazilian Grand Prix (now referred to as the Sao Paulo Grand Prix) weekend.
Held at the Interlagos Circuit, officially known as the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, the Sao Paulo Grand Prix is one of the most highly anticipated races of the season by drivers and fans alike. Known for its ability to overtake the car in front of you, the Interlagos Circuit typically offers some of the best racing action on the calendar for Formula One.
The circuit was originally constructed in 1940 and has served as the site for the Brazilian Grand Prix since 1973. Similar to the Japanese Grand Prix, many World Drivers’ champions have been crowned in Sao Paulo, including Fernando Alonso who won both of his World Drivers’ Championships after the results on this track.
And while this year’s F1 World Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships are settled, multiple teams enter the weekend with high stakes and high hopes.
Mercedes, for instance, has turned their season around dramatically after major struggles with the car in the first half. They have found themselves competing for wins in recent weeks and are looking to put one of their drivers atop the podium this weekend for their first victory of the season.
Mercedes is also in a fight with Ferrari for securing second place in the Constructors’ Championship. Currently, Ferrari leads by 40 points and looks in prime position to hold onto second, but with two races left, and a season plagued by reliability issues for the Italian team, Mercedes could catch them.
Behind the team battle for second and third, the title of “best of the rest” is still up for grabs as Alpine and McLaren are vying for the fourth spot in the Constructors’ Championship.
Alpine currently finds itself in fourth with a narrow seven-point lead over McLaren.
Just as important as the fight with McLaren, however, is the fight for final standings in the Drivers’ championship within the Alpine team itself. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon currently leads teammate Fernando Alonso by 11 points.
Alonso has only ever been outscored by a teammate once in his historically long F1 career.
And even though Red Bull has had one of the most dominant seasons in the history of the sport, they are looking to secure the team’s first-ever one-two finish in the driver’s championship. With Max Verstappen locked into the top spot already, it is down to Sergio Perez’s battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for the second spot.
Mario Isola, Pirelli motorsport director, announced that once again teams will have the three compounds in the middle of the tire range to choose from this weekend, marking the third race in a row to utilize this selection.
“There aren’t any big demands on the tyres in terms of traction and braking because it’s a very flowing layout, and the lack of slow corners means that the teams are able to control the degradation on the rear tyres,” Isola said.
And while oddsmakers still like Verstappen (-225) to continue his amazing form and take victory, they also like Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (+560) to be in the mix followed by Leclerc (+600) close behind.
With the inclusion of a sprint race this Grand Prix weekend, the schedule is slightly different. The first practice session kicks off on Friday, November 11 at 9:30 a.m. CST followed by a qualifying session to set the order for the sprint race that same day at 1 p.m. CST.
Saturday, November 12 will begin with a second practice session at 9:30 a.m. CST followed by the sprint race at 1:30 p.m. CST. The results of the sprint race will determine the starting order for Sunday’s race, which is set to begin at 12 p.m.