Put to the back for a technical infringement, Lewis Hamilton tore through the field, finishing fifth – a fine launchpad for his brilliant win in the race the day after. Hopes are high for another exciting sprint in 2022.
F1 will hold six sprint races next year, but not all the drivers are fans of this new development.
“There’s no feeling,” said Max Verstappen in the build-up. “Every time I do these races, it’s about ‘don’t get damage, make sure you stay in the top three’.
“For me, that’s not really a race, because you go into the main race and you know there are way more points available anyway, you just risk a bit more there.”
Can Verstappen extend record streak?
Verstappen has been class of the field this year – indicated by the records he’s still setting
Red Bull
F1’s new champion has already now won the most races in a season (14) and scored the most points in one too (416) but he will very likely extend both of these with sixty points still on offer in the last two events.
He could also equal the ‘grand chelems in a season’ record which currently stands at three, held jointly by Alberto Ascari (1952), Jim Clark (1963 and 1965), Nigel Mansell (1992) and Lewis Hamilton (2017).
Inclement weather incoming
Fisichella mastered the conditions for ’03 victory – will we see another surprise
Grand Prix Photo
The Sao Paulo weather forecast is very much on the inclement side as things stand.
Rain is expected on all three days of running in Brazil, with thunderstorms also indicated for Saturday’s sprint – we could yet be in for a wet and wild weekend at Interlagos.
There have been many classic stormy Brazilian races through the years. 2003 provided a destruction derby which resulted in Giancarlo Fisichella taking his first and Jordan’s last F1 win, Hamilton took his first title in adverse ’08 conditions and Max Verstappen provided a thrill-a-moment in the ’16 edition.
Will peace break out in Sky / Red Bull feud?
Will peace break out in Brazil?
Getty Images
In a season run-in already fuelled by controversy, things went up a notch when Red Bull announced before Mexico it was now boycotting all interviews with Sky due to Ted Kravitz saying Lewis Hamilton had been “robbed” of an eighth title at last year’s controversial Abu Dhabi GP decider.
Large numbers have come out to support Kravitz on the matter, many feeling it unfair to single out one member of the media.
Will we see civil relations break out between the two parties in Brazil, or could the feud run and run?
Can Mick Schumacher save his seat?
Schumacher is fighting for his F1 career, and well do with some Sao Paulo sparkle to hold onto his Haas seat
Grand Prix Photo
Haas is now the only team with a free berth left for 2023, with Nico Hülkenberg and Antonio Giovinazzi both circling as potential candidates.
Current young incumbent Mick Schumacher is still in the hunt though; the German has showed pace this season but rarely translated this into results.
However, the son of legend Michael announced himself in F1 at this year’s Styrian sprint in Austria by duelling with Lewis Hamilton, setting himself up for a strong sixth in the race – could he do the same again this time and secure his F1 future?
Silver medal scrap
Mercedes has risen to Ferrari’s challenge in recent races
DPPI
Red Bull may already have sewn up both gold medals, but the battle for second in the constructors’ championship between Ferrari and Mercedes is intense.
The Silver Arrows’ mid-to-late season surge and the Scuderia’s fading challenge has seen the two almost converge in the points, with Ferrari now 40 points ahead in the table.
This weekend 58 points alone are available for teams to score – the scrap for second could yet get more intense.