The 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos has been anything but ordinary, delivering a weekend filled with intense battles, strategic shake-ups, and unpredictable weather. With the main race set to begin at 17:30 PM South African Standard Time, here’s everything that’s gone down so far and why you won’t want to miss what comes next.
Sprint Qualifying: McLaren’s Strong Start
The Brazilian Grand Prix kicked off on Friday, 1 November, with Sprint Qualifying. McLaren’s young star, Oscar Piastri, snatched pole position, leading a McLaren one-two with his teammate Lando Norris close behind. Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured fourth, setting the stage for a competitive Sprint.
Top 3 in Sprint Qualifying:
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – Pole Position
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
This strong start for McLaren hinted that they might be ready to challenge Red Bull’s dominance, especially as championship leader Verstappen faced increasing pressure.
Sprint Race: A Victory and a Penalty
On Saturday, 2 November, the Sprint Race unfolded with nail-biting excitement. Lando Norris seized the lead from Piastri in the final laps, with McLaren using team orders to facilitate the swap. This strategic decision secured a valuable win for Norris, cutting his points deficit to Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship to 44.
However, drama struck as Verstappen, who crossed the line in third, received a post-race penalty, dropping him to fourth. This reshuffle meant Mercedes’ George Russell moved up to take third, further shaking up the points tally.
Top 5 Sprint Race Results:
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – Winner
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – Second Place
- George Russell (Mercedes) – Promoted to Third after Verstappen’s penalty
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – Demoted to Fourth
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – Fifth Place
Weather Woes: Postponements and Schedule Changes
Heavy rains drenched the track on Saturday, forcing the main qualifying session to be postponed. F1 officials rescheduled it for Sunday morning, with the Brazilian Grand Prix start time moved up by 90 minutes to 3:30 PM GMT (17:30 PM South African Standard Time). The weather disruptions added yet another layer of unpredictability to an already tense weekend.
Main Qualifying: Pole, Penalties, and Plenty of Red Flags
Qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix saw wet conditions and multiple red flags, impacting several drivers’ performance. Max Verstappen initially secured a competitive time but was caught out by the red flags and couldn’t improve his lap, ultimately ending up in 12th place. This unexpected setback moved Lando Norris, who qualified second, into pole position for the main race. George Russell and Yuki Tsunoda completed the top three in qualifying, benefiting from Verstappen’s misfortune.
This opened the door for Lando Norris, who had qualified second, to start on pole for the main race, giving him a significant edge over his championship rival Verstappen. The qualifying results also revealed impressive performances from other drivers, with George Russell and Yuki Tsunoda taking second and third, respectively.
Top 10 Main Qualifying Results:
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – Q31:23:405
- George Russell (Mercedes) – Q3: 1:23.578
- Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) – Q3: 1:24.111
- Esteban Ocon (Alpine) – Q3: 1:24.475
- Liam Lawson (Williams) – Q3: 1:24.484
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – Q3: 1:24.525
- Alexander Albon (Williams) – Q3: 1:24.657
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – Q3: 1:24.686
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – Q3: 1:28.998
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – Q2: 1:26:334
The session also saw a record-breaking number of red flags:
- Franco Colapinto (Williams) – Crashed early in Q1.
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – Caused a red flag after a crash in Q2.
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – Crashed in Q3 but retained his previous times.
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – His crash triggered another Q3 red flag.
- Alex Albon (Williams) – Final red flag of the session after a severe crash.
Looking Ahead: The Brazilian Grand Prix Main Race
With Norris on pole and Verstappen forced to start from sixth, the main race promises to deliver high-stakes action. Can Norris capitalise on his advantageous grid position to gain ground in the championship, or will Verstappen find a way to fight his way back to the front?
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As the drivers prepare for the final showdown, all eyes are on Interlagos for what could be one of the most memorable races of the season. Make sure you’re ready for the twists, turns, and potential championship-shifting moments of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
