#F1 @Rolex Grande Premio De Sao Paulo 2023 Preview. #BrazilianGP #BrazilGP #Formula1
Formula 1 Heineken Grande Premio De Sao Paulo 2022 Race Start, Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Interlagos), Sao Paulo, Brazil. Image credit to Chris Graythen/Getty Images. 2023 Brazilian GP Preview, 2023 Brazil GP Preview, F1 Brazilian GP Preview, Formula 1 Brazilian GP Preview.
2023 Brazilian GP Preview – After Max Verstappen scored his 16th victory of the season in a dominant display at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, round 21 of the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship returns to the popular Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo, Brazil for the Formula 1 Grande Premio Heineken De Sao Paulo 2023. This marks the 50th running as a round of the world championship since its inception in 1950 and the 39th event to be held at Interlagos. This is also the final part of the triple-header in the 2023 schedule alongside the United States and Mexican Grands Prix and the final race of the season that will feature the F1 100km Sprint Format this season.
2023 Brazilian GP Preview – A look at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace
The Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, known by its former name Interlagos is a permanent racing circuit located in the city of Sao Paulo in the neighbourhood of Interlagos. The circuit was renamed after Brazilian Formula 1 driver Carlos Pace who was tragically killed in a plane accident.
In 1938 a huge plot of land was bought in Sao Paulo by two property developers whose intention was to build accommodation. Following difficulties partly due to the 1929 stock market crash and one part of the land not being suitable for housing, they decided to build a racing circuit instead. Construction began in 1938 and the track opened in 1940. Sao Paulo grew at a rapid rate and the circuit was quickly surrounded by houses.
In the 1970s when legend Emerson Fittipaldi began to have international success, the Brazilians wanted to host a Grand Prix. In 1971 and 1972 Interlagos hosted non-championship races but in 1973 the track staged its first Grand Prix as part of the world championship.
The track quickly became the locals’ lucky charm, with Fittipaldi and Carlos Pace claiming victories in the 1970s. Interlagos was the scene of Pace’s first and only Formula One victory and following his death in a plane crash the circuit was renamed in his honour.
In 1978 it moved to the Jacarepaguá circuit in Rio de Janeiro, but in 1979 Interlagos reclaimed the race back for a couple of years. By 1981 however, Rio de Janeiro had taken the Grand Prix back. When an agreed $15m investment to shorten and smoothen the circuit was made due to recent success of Sao Paulo native Ayrton Senna, the race made its return to Interlagos in 1990 and has stayed as the home of the Brazilian Grand Prix ever since.
The Autodromo Jose Carlos Paces’ natural contours provides a challenging combination of technically demanding medium and low-speed turns linked with high-speed straights and bends. The topography of the circuit means many of these are off camber, increasing the challenge.
A major car setup consideration is the altitude. At 800m, Interlagos is the second highest altitude circuit of the year after the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico and the thinner air in the past led engines to produce 7-8 per cent less power but the 1.6L turbocharged V6 hybrid powertrains have the advantage over its naturally aspirated predecessors due to the turbochargers being able to spin faster to compensate for lower atmospheric pressure at higher altitudes. The altitude levels also effect aerodynamic performance too as such teams will run higher downforce packages to cope with inefficiencies. The lack of aerodynamic grip also means that the importance of good mechanical grip is emphasised. The other variable is the weather and conditions at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace which can be hard to predict at times.
The Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace is 4.309km (2.677 miles) in length with 15 corners and runs in an anti-clockwise direction.
Race distance is 305.909km (190.067 miles) in length with 71 laps in total.
Valtteri Bottas holds the fastest lap record at the circuit with a 1:10.540 set at the 2018 event in his Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport F1 W09 EQ Power+.
Four-time World Champion Alain Prost holds the record for most Brazilian Grand Prix victories with six.
McLaren are the most successful constructor at the Brazilian Grand Prix with 12 victories.
2023 Brazilian GP Preview – Onboard lap of the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace
Here is the onboard pole lap of the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace set at the 2022 event by Kevin Magnussen in his Haas F1 Team VF-22 racer, with the Dane posting a solid 1:11.674. You can watch the footage right here at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPx3ZbDTdEA
2023 Brazilian GP Preview – The Last Five Winners
2022: George Russell, Mercedes AMG F1. 2021: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2020: Not Held. 2019: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2018: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2017: Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Ferrari.
2023 Brazilian GP Preview – Tyres
Sole-tyre supplier Pirelli will be bringing with them to Brazil the C2 white side-walled Hard rubber, the yellow-marked C3 P-Zero Medium tyres and the C4 red-branded Soft compounds along with the green-branded Intermediate and blue-marked Full Wet tyre compounds in case of rain.
There will be two sets of C2 Hards, four C3 Mediums and six sets of C4 Soft tyres for all drivers.
2023 Brazilian GP Preview – DRS Zones
There will be two DRS Zones at Interlagos. The first detection point is at the apex of turn two, with the activation point 20 metres after turn three. The second detection zone is 30 metres after turn 13 with the activation point 30 metres after the final corner.
2023 Brazilian GP Preview – Pitlane Speed Limits
Pitlane speed limits will be 80km/h during practice, qualifying and the race.
ICYMI: Verstappen cruises to dominant Mexico GP victory
Verstappen Mexico GP Victory – Newly-crowned three-time world champion Max Verstappen recorded his 16th victory of the season in a dominant display at the Mexico GP and finished 13.875 seconds clear of Mercedes’ Sir Lewis Hamilton as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the top three.
Verstappen also equalled legendary four-time world champion Alain Prost’s record of 51 wins on the all-time Grand Prix winners list.
When the 71-lap Mexico GP began, polesitter Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz got an equal getaway together off the line and Verstappen slip-streamed the second Ferrari and pulls alongside. But home favourite Sergio Perez came in slipstreaming the Ferrari’s, and suddenly it was Verstappen, Leclerc and Perez side by side into the opening corner. Three into one didn’t work as Leclerc was sandwiched and Perez tangled with the Ferrari and Perez was launched into the air and off the track into turn one.
Leclerc continued on with a damaged front wing end-plate as Perez slowly toured back to the pits.
At the end of the opening tour, Verstappen held a 1.419 second lead over Leclerc with Sainz third, AlphaTauri’s Daniel Ricciardo fourth and Mercedes Lewis Hamilton completing the top five.
Perez made his way back to the pits and after sustaining suspension damage and retired from his home Grand Prix as the Mexican left his car frustrated.
On the third tour, Leclerc’s front wing end-plate flew off the car helping him to avoid receiving a black-and-orange flag.
On the fifth lap, the VSC was called to remove the debris from Leclerc’s SF-23 which ended up on the track as the Monegasque driver is under investigation for driving in an unsafe condition.
When the VSC ended a lap later, Verstappen held a two-second gap over Leclerc with Sainz a further two seconds behind his team-mate in third meanwhile the battle for fourth intensified between Ricciardo and Hamilton.
On lap eight, Hamilton had a look at Ricciardo into turn one, but the AlphaTauri covered the Mercedes as the Australian made his AT04 racer as wide as possible.
The second Silver Arrow of George Russell also was pushing the McLaren of Oscar Piastri hard in the battle for sixth.
Lap 11 saw Hamilton get within the slipstream of Ricciardo and using DRS assistance breezed his way into fourth place before entering turn one.
The 12th lap saw race leader Verstappen 3.117 seconds in-front of the damaged Ferrari of Leclerc with Sainz third, Hamilton fourth as Ricciardo completed the top five.
In the fight for eighth place on lap 14, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in ninth place was told by his team that Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg was beginning to struggle with tyres.
Verstappen’s lead on lap 15 was up to over four seconds of Leclerc and was on course to be out of undercut range.
Williams Racing’s Alexander Albon climbed into tenth place overtaking Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa on lap 16.
On lap 17 in the battler for third place, Hamilton was told to “keep his powder dry for a couple of laps.” meaning the Briton had to potentially back-off and manage his tyres meanwhile Leclerc will be investigated by the stewards after the race for driving in an unsafe manner.
On the 20th lap, Verstappen pitted from the lead for a fresh set of hards and emerged in seventh place behind Russell whilst Hamilton was all over the back of Sainz’s Ferrari in the battle for second.
Lap 22nd saw race leader Leclerc 5.765 seconds clear of Ferrari team-mate Sainz with Hamilton closely behind the Spaniard in third, Ricciardo fourth as Piastri rounded up the top five.
Meanwhile newly-crowned three-time world champion Verstappen breezed his way on his fresh rubber to overtake Russell into turn one.
A tour later, Verstappen also with DRS assistance got into the slipstream of the McLaren on Piastri passing him on the inside before reaching turn one to take fifth place as Ferrari told Sainz that a one-stop strategy is the right choice.
On lap 24, Haas F1 Team’s Nico Hulkenberg stopped from eighth to put on a set of hards and came out in 16th.
On the 25th tour, Hamilton and Mercedes attempted to go for the undercut and pitted from third for a fresh set of hards and emerged in seventh behind his team-mate Russell as Verstappen passed his former team-mate Ricciardo for third.
McLaren’s Piastri made his stop on lap 26 and came out in tenth behind Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas.
Lap 27 saw Russell stop from fifth for a fresh set of hards and emerged in tenth place behind Piastri’s MCL60 racer meanwhile the latter made his way ahead of Bottas for eighth at the end of sector one.
A tour later, Ricciardo pitted from fourth for a fresh set of hards and came out in sixth place behind Gasly’s A523 entry.
Lap 29 saw Verstappen breeze his way passed the Ferrari of Sainz with a solid slipstream and DRS assistance to take second place meanwhile Russell followed suit to overtake Albon for seventh.
On lap 30, the yet-to-pit Leclerc held 7.359 second gap over Verstappen who held the fastest lap, with Sainz third, Hamilton fourth as Ricciardo rounded out the top five.
The 31st lap saw Sainz pit from second place to switch to a fresh set of hards and came out in fourth behind Hamilton meanwhile McLaren’s Lando Norris was up into eighth passing Albon.
Leclerc pitted from the lead on lap 32 to put on his fresh set of the white side-walled C3 hards and emerged into second place and 16.759 seconds behind Verstappen.
On lap 33, Haas F1 Team’s Magnussen suffered a heavy shunt down after his rear suspension broke at turn nine bringing out the safety car as Verstappen took advantage for a free pit-stop.
A tour later, a red flag was brought out due to the scattered debris of Magnussen’s damaged VF-23 and the barriers being out of place.
The order on lap 35 was Verstappen from Leclerc and Hamilton, Sainz fourth from Ricciardo and Piastri as Russell, AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda, Hulkenberg and Norris rounded out the top ten.
When the race resumed with a standing start after a 30-minute delay as Magnussen’s VF-23 was removed, debris cleared and the barriers back into place, Verstappen got a brilliant lead into turn one as Leclerc covers Hamilton for second meanwhile Sainz kept the second Mercedes of Russell at bay.
At the beginning of lap 36, Verstappen’s lead was 1.349 seconds over Leclerc with Hamilton third, Sainz fourth, Russell fifth and Ricciardo sixth.
In the battle for second, Hamilton was right on the tail of Leclerc’s Ferrari with DRS assistance and managed to cover him off both at turns one and four meanwhile Sainz kept Russell at bay.
On lap 39 with DRS assistance, Hamilton was right into the slipstream of Leclerc on the main-straight and went to the right, dipping his right wheels onto the grass and passed the SF-23 on the inside before turn one and made the move stick into turn four to grab second place.
A lap later, Russell was still in DRS range of Sainz in the battle for fourth place and further back Tsunoda was all over Piastri’s tail in the fight for seventh.
Lap 44 saw Ferrari tell Leclerc to try and drop back to help give Sainz a tow to defend from Russell and encouraging the Monegasque driver said that in five tours the harder compound will be faster than the medium.
On the 47th lap, Verstappen’s lead increased to 6.141 seconds over Hamilton with Leclerc third, and Sainz holding Russell closely behind in the fight for fourth place with Ricciardo sixth.
Meanwhile on lap 48, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was forced to retire the car being the third casualty of the Grand Prix.
A tour later, in the battle for seventh, AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda got into the slipstream of Piastri and went around the outside of the Australian into turn one and the two clipped each with the former spinning out and falling back into 16th.
With 20 laps remaining, Verstappen’s lead was up to 8.358 seconds over Hamilton with Leclerc third, Sainz fourth, Russell fifth and the two Australians Ricciardo and Piastri in sixth and seventh respectively.
On lap 54 in the battle for the final points place, Ocon was up into the slipstream of Hulkenberg, but the German covered the A523 into turn one meanwhile Norris was closing down his team-mate Piastri in the fight for seventh place.
Two laps later, Piastri suffered a lock-up into turn one with team-mate Norris tucked right behind and after reporting to Piastri on the radio to potentially let Norris through to go and push to fight Ricciardo, the Australian let him through into turn four.
Lap 59 saw Norris charging in on former team-mate Ricciardo in the battle for sixth.
And on lap 60 Verstappen’s lead increased to 12.190 seconds over Hamilton with Leclerc a further 5.474 behind the Briton in third, Sainz fourth and dropping Russell who was fifth as Norris passed the AT04 of Ricciardo around the outside into turns four and five to take sixth.
Lap 63 saw the battle for the final points place heat up as Ocon was right behind the VF-23 of Hulkenberg and was even closer into turn one, but the German held off the Frenchman once more.
A lap later, Norris was reeling in the Mercedes of Russell in the fight for fifth place taking 1.2 seconds out of his fellow British-compatriot on his last tour.
On lap 66 Norris was right within DRS range and had a look at Russell into turn one, but the Mercedes covered the McLaren into turn one and likewise done the same into the fourth corner.
Meanwhile Ocon overtook Hulkenberg around the outside to take tenth place from the Haas well before the braking point into turn one.
A tour later, Norris jumped passed Russell around the inside of the Silver Arrow into turn six to take fifth place as Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was the fourth retiree from the race following his collision with Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas in the stadium section.
On the penultimate lap, the AlphaTauri of Ricciardo was drew ever closer to Russell in the battle for sixth place and could not get by into turn one.
Verstappen crossed the line to score his 51st-career victory at the Mexico GP as Hamilton came home with the fastest lap bonus point and Leclerc completed the top three.
Sainz finished the Grand Prix a distant fourth place and ahead of McLaren’s Norris who was fifth as Russell kept the fast-charging Australian of Ricciardo behind at the line to take sixth.
The other McLaren MCL60 racer of Piastri settled for eighth and in-front of Williams Racing’s Alexander Albon who came ninth as Alpine’s Ocon rounded out the final points place.
The second A523 entry of Gasly finished 11th and ahead of AlphaTauri’s Tsunoda who was on course for a points finish, but tangled with Piastri in the latter stages, recovered to 12th and Haas’s Hulkenberg who ended the race 13th.
The Alfa Romeo’s of Bottas and Zhou were the final runners to finish in 14th and 15th respectively.
Williams Racing’s Logan Sargeant was the fifth retirement of the race after suffering damage with Stroll.
Leclerc is currently under investigation by the stewards for driving in an unsafe manner following his lap one collision with home favourite Perez.
2023 Brazilian GP Preview – The Situation
The final Formula 1 Sprint weekend hits this weekend at the Brazilian Grand Prix as the Americas triple-header comes to an end.
The Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Interlagos) has produced some of the sport’s most dramatic moments since it first joined the calendar in 1973 including a chaotic wet race in 2003, Lewis Hamilton’s last corner overtake to score his maiden world championship in 2008, Sebastian Vettel’s rollercoaster to the 2012 World Driver’s Title and Max Verstappen’s all-out attack defence against Hamilton in 2021.
Verstappen broke his own record for most victories in a single-season with his 16th last time out in Mexico and will be looking for his second victory at Interlagos.
George Russell scored his first-ever Formula One win last season after fending-off Mercedes team-mate Hamilton in a Silver Arrows one-two and Team Boss Toto Wolff is hopeful they will go strong again this weekend.
Hamilton is just 20 points behind Perez in the battle for the runner up spot in the World Driver’s Championship standings and Mercedes hold a 22-point gap over Ferrari in the battle for the runner-up spot in the World Constructor’s Championship.
Max Verstappen returns to Brazil as a newly-crowned three-time World Driver’s Champion, sitting on top with 491 points and a 251-point lead over Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez who is second on 240 points whilst Lewis Hamilton is a further 271 behind the Dutchman in third on 220 points.
Oracle Red Bull Racing comes to Sao Paulo as World Constructors Champions, sitting in P1 with 731 points and a 360-point advantage over nearest rivals Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team who are second on 371 points whilst Scuderia Ferrari are third and a further 382 behind the Milton Keynes based-outfit on 349 points.
Click here for the 2023 Formula 1 World Driver’s (Top 10) and Constructors Championship Standings
The Formula 1 Rolex Grande Premio De Sao Paulo 2023 weekend begins Friday November 3 with Free Practice 1 and Qualifying, followed by the Sprint Shootout and the F1 Sprint Race Saturday November 4 and the 71 lap Race Sunday November 5.
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