2022 Formula One Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Charles Leclerc Brazilian Grand Prix.jpg
With just two races remaining in the 2022 Formula 1 season, the teams head to Brazil to take on one of the most historic and exciting circuits on the calendar.

Autódromo José Carlos Pace is the site of F1 racing action this weekend. Last year, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were in the midst of a fierce championship battle, and Brazil proved to be one of the most exciting races of that championship.

This year's race has no such uncertainty or drama, as Verstappen and his Red Bull team have been very much in control of the drivers' and constructors' championship for most of the season.

The Interlagos circuit, however, typically produces exciting racing action from the F1 grid, and this year should be no exception. Its long, DRS-enhanced start/finish straight gives drivers ample opportunity to set up overtakes into turn 1, and a second DRS zone follows just a few corners later.

The circuit has remained largely unchanged for the past 30 years, and its windy, hilly nature has been home to epic F1 memories such as Hamilton's last-to-first weekend in 2021, Verstappen's brilliant wet weather driving in 2016, and Ayrton Senna's unforgettable first home win in 1991 despite having only 6th gear by the end of the race.

This is a sprint race weekend, meaning that the race starting order will be decided with a shortened race on Saturday. The weather is looking unkind all weekend, with rain in the forecast for all three days of the grand prix.

Could the weather make for interesting results this weekend? Who do you think will take the win on Sunday? Let us know in the comments below.
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Mike Smith
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

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Comments

Mark Brunner
metalnwood said:
I like the stewards decision. We have all raced there in the sim and know what that corner is like, Hamilton had the line and Max tried an overtake in a bad position.

Hamilton had a much better line and was ahead, the rules should not have to make him essentially yield so that a bad overtake doesn't involve an accident. The end result, the stewards expected Max to back off from his position.

Hamilton would have had to give him more than a cars width of room as Max's line would have taken him to the middle of the track or for Max to avoid he would have had to go over the sausage part of the kerb. All points to a bad move by Max imho
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I agree with your take having driven that track many times in sim the outside into turn 1 leaves you in a terrible position for the next right hander. Even if Hamilton had given him another cars width the position of Max car and inputs he would have still ran Hamilton off the road wide on exit more than likely.

Max would have needed to scrub some speed to make the corner cleanly and who thinks he or Hamilton would have done that in the same position.

I would have been fine with racing incident given Max car came out worse from the incident or the penalty that was given was fine.

As to the race, great drive by Russel and great drive by Hamilton to get back to 2nd. I think driver of the day should have went to Alonso he put in a great drive and had good strategy.
 
C
What a great weekend of racing.
While I didn't expect Max to give the place back, I was surprised that he didn't come up with some plausible deniability excuse. I can see that costing him something next year at some point.
 
Richard Wilks
Verstappen had way too much of an overlap to just evaporate, or for Hamilton to ignore his presence like he did. The Stewards are out of their minds to penalize MV there.

Verstappen on the other hand should have yielded to Perez for once, its in these moments that you should be a team player, and not think just about yourself, because you will need the team later on.

Russell did all right, deserved victory.


I have the feeling this Merc competitiveness might be short lived, because RB is already working on next years car.
 
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Badwheels
Reading the comments here, re-affirms my decision not to have children.

On another note, if what the commentator said was true about Max telling the pit to kiss his azz with regards to giving the place back to Perez, I don't know anyone could support the guy. I mean he didn't need the points. I am just hoping that isn't true.

But not to be predjudiced, LeClerc asking to have Sainz throw a podium was MAJOR F'd up.
 
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D
Badwheels said:
Reading the comments here, re-affirms my decision not to have children.

On another note, if what the commentator said was true about Max telling the pit to kiss his azz with regards to giving the place back to Perez, I don't know anyone could support the guy. I mean he didn't need the points. I am just hoping that isn't true.

But not to be predjudiced, LeClerc asking to have Sainz throw a podium was MAJOR F'd up.
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Hurry to listen, I suspect F1 will remove this shortly, not because it is predudicial to Max, but they just don't want their content floating around.
Keep track of the driver points right now, and compare after the last race. If LeClerc loses by a point....well, it's all about team and team mates right?
 
muzikant
what I read here in the Netherlands has to do with Perez admitting he crashed deliberately so Verstappen couldn't grab a polo in Monaco this year.
 
Sigwolf
Badwheels said:
Reading the comments here, re-affirms my decision not to have children.

On another note, if what the commentator said was true about Max telling the pit to kiss his azz with regards to giving the place back to Perez, I don't know anyone could support the guy. I mean he didn't need the points. I am just hoping that isn't true.

But not to be predjudiced, LeClerc asking to have Sainz throw a podium was MAJOR F'd up.
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It's not a question whether is was true. He said it on team radio, and affirmed it in several interviews after the race. But don't worry, he had his reasons, they were just super-secret and can't be shared, but... reasons.
 
ZuneGuy
metalnwood said:
I like the stewards decision. We have all raced there in the sim and know what that corner is like, Hamilton had the line and Max tried an overtake in a bad position.

Hamilton had a much better line and was ahead, the rules should not have to make him essentially yield so that a bad overtake doesn't involve an accident. The end result, the stewards expected Max to back off from his position.

Hamilton would have had to give him more than a cars width of room as Max's line would have taken him to the middle of the track or for Max to avoid he would have had to go over the sausage
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That's true, you're correct, but saying those things on these forums is like blasphemy.
 
W
Stewards/Race Direction had a bit of a s***show today tbh. Between the Verstappen penalty (understandable in hindsight, but I still don't agree), and Tsunoda staying lapped, Masi should lose his job over this. Oh..
 
PickABetterUsername01
Race was pretty decent overall. MV penalty was bullshit, Hamilton again doing Hamilton things, was clear he had to leave more space.

I'm surprised how no one is talking about Tsunoda not unlapping himself during the SC, what the hell was that? The message we got was that only 2 cars could unlap themselves.

MV failed us all and his team by not letting Perez overtake him back. I cannot imagine a good reason for that. If it truly was this Monaco bullshit, then it's ridiculous, seriously.
 
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K
muzikant said:
what do you think is not grown up about it? that I don't think it's a penalty?
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No, I don't think it was a penalty either. But it's the fanboy comment "Lewis can only keep Max behind him by knocking him off the track".
 
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Taj Johal
Premium
Great to see Mr. Saturday become Mr. Sunday!
Great weekend and race from George, hopefully many more to come.

And I absolutely agree with the max fanboys that Sir Lewis should have left him more space. I distinctly remember them saying last year , that max should have left Sir Lewis more space at Imola or Brazil for example.
 
Damage Inc
Congrats to George. Lewis/Max was a racing incident IMO. Not too dissimilar to Copse, Car on the inside on a bad line both times.....except in 21 Max left room at the Apex and Lewis did not yesterday.

I'm getting the feeling Max is to Lewis what Lewis is to Alonso.
 
P
What is wrong with Verstappen? He has something wrong with head? Sergio helped him many times with winning World Championship, and now he did something like this. For me Verstappen is over forever.

Congatulations for Russell, fantastic race- I like him more and more....
 
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Enagee
Max had more to gain, and absolutely nothing to lose by letting Perez pass, he definitely has more to lose now as it highlights how he sees things and he's brain works as a human.

So if you're not his teammate then ........... he definitely don't give Zero F@nkz!

Props to Carlos Sainz who said he would have moved if asked, they all grumble on the radio but will still do as instructed.

I felt Max spoke Very Rudely to his team on the radio and should humble himself and apologies .
 
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Aki Korhonen
PawelP said:
What is wrong with Verstappen? He has something wrong with head? Sergio helped him many times with winning World Championship, and now he did something like this. For me Verstappen is over forever.

Congatulations for Russell, fantastic race- I like him more and more....
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when a person is found to have liquid in their head, the game is lost :D
 

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