In Pictures: Brazil 2023
The Formula 1 family arrived in Brazil for yet another Sprint Weekend, samba style!
THE AREA
SAO PAULO
São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil. It is the most populous city outside of Asia, and the world's 4th largest city proper by population. It is the largest Portuguese-speaking city in the world. The city's name honors the Apostle, Saint Paul of Tarsus.
The city has the 23rd largest GDP in the world, representing 10.7% of all Brazilian GDP.
São Paulo is a cosmopolitan, melting pot city, home to the largest Arab, Italian, and Japanese diasporas. In 2016, inhabitants of the city were native to over 200 countries. Interestingly, São Paulo has more descendants of Italians than any Italian city.
HISTORY
The Portuguese village of São Paulo dos Campos de Piratininga was marked by the founding of the Colégio de São Paulo de Piratininga on 25 January 1554. The Jesuit college of twelve priests included Manuel da Nóbrega and Spanish priest José de Anchieta.
For the next two centuries, São Paulo developed as a poor and isolated village that survived largely through the cultivation of subsistence crops by the labor of natives. For a long time, São Paulo was the only village in Brazil's interior, as travel was too difficult for many to reach the area.
On 22 March 1681, Luís Álvares de Castro, the Second Marquis de Cascais and donee of the Captaincy of São Vicente moved the capital to the village of São Paulo, and on 11 July 1711, the town of São Paulo was elevated to city status. After Brazil became independent from Portugal in 1822, as declared by Emperor Pedro I where the Monument to the Independence of Brazil is located, he named São Paulo as an Imperial City. In 1827, a law school was founded at the Convent of São Francisco, today part of the University of São Paulo.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, São Paulo has been one of the main economic centers of Latin America. According to data from the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010 was R$450 billion, approximately US$220 billion, 12.26% of Brazilian GDP and 36% of all production of goods and services of the State of São Paulo. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers average annual economic growth of the city is 4.2%. In 2005, the city of São Paulo collected R$90 billion in taxes while the city’s budget was R$15 billion. The city has 1,500 bank branches and 70 shopping malls.
Formula One is also one of the most popular sports in Brazil. One of Brazil's most famous sportsmen is three-time Formula One world champion and São Paulo native Ayrton Senna. The Formula One São Paulo Grand Prix (formally known as the Brazilian Grand Prix) is held at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos. The Grand Prix has been held at the Interlagos circuit from 1973 to 1977, in 1979 and 1980, and from 1990 to the present. Four Brazilian drivers have won the Brazilian Grand Prix, all of whom were born in São Paulo: Emerson Fittipaldi (1973 and 1974), José Carlos Pace (1975), Ayrton Senna (1991 and 1993) and Felipe Massa (2006 and 2008).
THE CIRCUIT
The Autódromo José Carlos Pace, better known as Autódromo de Interlagos, or simply Interlagos, is a 4.309 km (2.677 mi) motorsport circuit.
It was inaugurated on 12 May 1940. The traditional name Interlagos (between lakes) of the circuit comes from the neighborhood itself which is in fact located between two large artificial lakes. Its design was inspired by tracks such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Roosevelt Raceway in the United States, Brooklands in England, and Montlhéry in France. Interlagos was renamed in 1985 to "Autódromo José Carlos Pace" in honor of the Brazilian F1 driver José Carlos Pace, who died in a plane crash in 1977.
Formula One started racing at Interlagos in 1972 when the event was run as a non-championship race (won by Argentinean Carlos Reutemann). The first World Championship Brazilian Grand Prix was held there in 1973, and it was won by defending Formula One World Champion and São Paulo local Emerson Fittipaldi. Fittipaldi won the race again the following year, and José Carlos Pace won his only race at Interlagos in 1975 in a Brabham BT44B.
Due to safety concerns with the 7.960 km (4.946 mi) original layout, including a bumpy surface, inadequate barriers, deep ditches, and embankments, the last Formula One race held on the original Interlagos was in 1980, when it was nearly canceled after protests by many Formula One drivers. These factors meant that Formula One would move back to the Jacarepaguá circuit in Rio de Janeiro, hometown of established star Nelson Piquet and where the Brazilian Grand Prix was held in 1978.
Formula One returned to Interlagos in 1990, after it had been shortened and modified. The track layout, aside from the pit exit being extended along the "Curva do Sol" over the years has remained the same since 1990, although it has been modified several times during the years. The ascendancy of another São Paulo local, Ayrton Senna, has also influenced the return of Formula One to Interlagos, and it has stayed there ever since.
List of the corners with their names (the numbers correspond to the current layout, from start to finish line):
• 'S' do Senna (Senna S) (Turns 1 and 2)
• Curva do Sol (Curve of the Sun) (Turn 3)
• Descida do Lago (Lake's Descent) (Turns 4 and 5)
• Ferradura (Horseshoe) (Turns 6 and 7)
• Laranjinha (Little Orange) (Turn 8)
• Pinheirinho (Little Pine Tree) (Turn 9)
• Bico de Pato (Duck's Bill) (Turn 10)
• Mergulho (Dive) (Turn 11)
• Junção (Junction) (Turn 12)
• Café (Coffee) (Turn 13)
• Subida dos Boxes (Up to the Pits) (Turn 14)
• Arquibancadas (Bleachers) (Turn 15)
The series of left turns from the exit of "Junção" (Turn 12) all the way to Turn 1 is typically taken at full throttle and treated as a long straight. This section is one of the longest full-throttle stretches on the Formula 1 calendar, thus demanding the engine's reliability. Other notable stretches of this nature are the "Rettifilo Tribune" straight at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza and the Kemmel Straight at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
FRIDAY
Since this was a Sprint weekend, the last one of the season BTW, there was only one practice session, meaning teams needed to do qualifying runs, long runs, test wings, and changes to the setups, all of that in just 60 minutes.
Also, early Friday it was informed a five-year extension was agreed between the organizers of the Brazilian Grand Prix and Formula One, so the race will be on the calendar to at least 2030.
FP1
As expected, there was a large cue at the end of the pitlane, and as soon as possible, everyone got onto the track for their first laps. All drivers on the track had hard tires on, and it was noticeable how the cars were sliding everywhere, struggling to get grip.
After a busy, busy, busy practice, it was Carlos Sainz the fastest, ahead of Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Nico Hulkenberg, and Alex Albon, the top five.
QUALIFYING
The start of qualifying was delayed as the track’s usual cleaning took longer than expected. There was a bit of debris out there.
A quick reminder, this qualifying used the normal format, with Q1 lasting 18 minutes. at the end of it, the slowest five cars drop out. Q2 is 15 minutes long, and another five cars are eliminated, leaving the top ten for one final stage, 12 minutes long, where Pole Position is decided.
Q1
The first stage of qualifying finally started at 3:15 PM local time, and as there were threats of rain, everybody went onto the track as early as possible.
Talk about a tight qualifying! All drivers separated by less than a second! Eliminated were Tsunoda, Ricciardo, Bottas, Sargeant, and Zhou in 20th, but just 0.935 from Russell on top of the chart with a 1:10.340 minute lap.
Q2
As with Q1, the threat of rain made everyone tried to get early laps, but the whole session was a mad dash to the top, with timed laps changing the general order at every lap. In the end, the top ten were separated by less than half a second! Up front, it was Norris from Verstappen and Perez, in the other end, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Gasly, Magnussen, and Albon did not go through to Q3.
Q3
It was getting darker by the second… And at 4.03 local time, last stage of qualifying started. Everyone, except Perez and Piastri, cued up early on, waiting for the green light. Rain was visible around the track.
It was turning black very quickly, and the first batch of laps were finished… Alonso commented: “It is night.”, so dark it was. Verstappen was ahead of Leclerc, Stroll, and Alonso.
Lots of wind, and lighting was visible, and the session was red-flagged. So, it was Max Verstappen claiming Pole Position for Sunday’s Grand Prix, his 11th pole of the season. Behind him were Charles Leclerc, Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez, and Oscar Piastri, who couldn’t complete a timed lap.
SATURDAY
I was a beautiful day in Brazil, it was dry and sunny, and the track looked completely different, as yesterday’s rain probably washed away all the rubber set before, making the track very, very green.
SPRINT SHOOTOUT
The Sprint Shootout is a shorter version of qualifying that sets the grid for the Sprint later on. It is split into three parts. SQ1 lasts 12 minutes though so is much shorter, as is the 10-minute SQ2 and the eight-minute SQ3. But unlike qualifying, the teams have to use the medium tire in SQ1 and SQ2, and that compound will take a little longer to warm up and does not offer the same amount of grip as the soft.
SQ1
The track was opened but not many drivers coming out as the track was a lot greener because of the rain the night before, and with the medium compound tires taking longer to get into temperature, drivers were probably going for just the one lap.
Slowly cars took to the track and timed laps started coming in.
But then, with just 0:33 seconds left on the clock, Esteban Ocon lost the rear of his Alpine while accelerating out of Turn 3, getting out of shape a bit, running a little wide and hitting Alonso’s Aston Martin, finally crashing into the barriers. Both drivers were okay.
Red flag and end of SQ1, meaning Ocon, Stroll, Zhou, Albon, and Sargeant did not get their chance to set another lap and got eliminated instead. Up front, Sainz was fastest, followed by Norris, and Hamilton.
SQ2
The start of this qualifying stage was delayed as the barriers were checked and repaired as necessary.
Finally, at 40 minutes past the hour, SQ2 started. Ten cars took to the track early on, and it was Verstappen setting the pace for the rest. Less than 1/2 a second separator the ten drivers on track.
For the last dash, everyone came out except Alonso, who was out with damages on his AMR23 due to the crash with Ocon. And it was mighty tight at the top of the chart, nevertheless, it was Lando Norris setting the fastest lap, barely ahead of Perez and Verstappen.
Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Bottas, and Alonso, knocked out.
SQ3
Soft tires for the final part of the shootout. Everyone waited until the final moments to come out as these tires are good for just one lap, so one shot for the top ten!
With less than four minutes, everyone came out, trying to get a clear space to set the best lap possible, and all of them got an empty track in front of them.
Checkered flag out and it was Lando Norris at the head of the field! Verstappen came in second fastest, just 0.061 behind, then it was Perez, Russell, Hamilton, Tsunoda, Leclerc, Ricciardo, Sainz, and Piastri.
SPRINT
Last Sprint of the season, and at a well-loved track by the Formula 1 drivers. And at 3:00 PM local time, the cars took to the track, although instead of the usual 10 minutes grid notice and lap allowance, it was limited to 5 minutes, and they could not come through the pits to do more than the out-lap, at the end of which the drivers should go to the grid.
The formation lap started, and tires were revealed, everybody was on softs, except both Haas cars and the Williams of Logan Sargeant.
The race started and Oh Boy, what a first lap… Verstappen took the lead going into turn 1, behind them the Mercedes duo looked racy as both of them overtook Perez, then, Russell passed Norris for second, and behind them, Leclerc overtook Tsunoda.
Superb driving between Sainz, Ricciardo, and Piastri, and just behind them, Alonso and Gasly, all of them trading places. Incredible racing!
Up ahead, Verstappen kept the lead, followed by Norris, and Perez. Behind them came Russell. Leclerc made a move on the main straight over Hamilton, getting fifth place. Ricciardo passed Piastri to claim 9th, and Yuki Tsunoda overtook Hamilton for sixth. Extraordinary racing that was with so much wheel-to-wheel racing inches away at high speeds, it’s no wonder these are twenty of the best drivers in the World.
In the end, and for the fourth time this season, Max Verstappen won a Sprint Race, Lando Norris was second, and Sergio Perez third. Then came Russell, Leclerc, Tsunoda, Hamilton, Sainz, Richard, and Piastri, the top ten.
SUNDAY - SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX
It was a beautiful day in Sao Paulo for a Grand Prix race, nothing like the dark sky and rain of Friday afternoon…
George Russell, Esteban Ocon, and Pierre Gasly had grid penalties for pit exit infringements during qualifying.
The drivers get to do as many laps as they want during the 10-minute window before heading to the grid, although, they do need to drive through the pits when doing so.
Just as in Mexico, music and color were the theme of the day with the Brazilians having a carnival, including “batucadas” and samba during the pre-race show. Simply magnificent.
At exactly 3:00 PM local time, the formation lap started, and Charles Leclerc lost the hydraulics on his SF23, and ended up crashing his Ferrari at Turn 7, breaking the front wing. He was able to restart the car, but he decided to pull down an escape road and retire from the race.
Not affected by Leclerc’s crash, the race started with an amazing start from Norris going from sixth to second place before Turn 1, and Hamilton overtaking Alonso to take third place. But behind them, chaos when Albon overtook Hulkenberg, who was being squeezed by Magnussen, finally clipping the Williams’ rear left tire, breaking the rear suspension, and crashing into Magnussen. Both Albon and Magnussen were out of the race. But Piastri’s McLaren was hit by loose debris, and Ricciardo’s AlphaTauri getting hit by a bouncing tire. Both drivers were able to get to the pits. Safety Car was deployed, but right after a Red Flag was shown, everybody went into the pits and waited for another standing start.
The McLaren and AlphaTauri respective mechanics worked furiously on the cars, trying to repair them in time for the restart.
Great news for the two Aussies as their cars were repaired and able to join the formation lap, although since repairs were made to the cars, rules state they had to restart from the pit lane.
The second start saw Verstappen leading the pack with Hamilton getting alongside Norris, but the McLaren man had the inside line and Hamilton locked up into Turn 1. But on Turn 4, Alonso, with the slipstream, overtook Hamilton.
On Lap 41, Valtteri Bottas joined the retired club, double DNF for the Alfa Romeo Team. And on Lap 57, Verstappen finally made his second pitstop but came out behind a very fast Lando Norris. But the McLaren driver did his 2nd pitstop on lap 60, he came out in second, behind Verstappen.
Meanwhile, WOW! What a battle! between a determined Alonso, defending from an ever-charging Perez. Lap after lap the Mexican simply could not make the pass, but on the penultimate lap, the Red Bull was too much for the Aston Martin and Perez finally overtook Alonso, but then, on the last lap of the Grand Prix, Alonso reclaimed his well deserved third place. What a drive! What a show by the two Spanish-speaking drivers.
Max Verstappen ended up winning the Grand Prix, his 17th victory of the season, with a quick Lando Norris, 8.2 seconds behind in second. Then came the extraordinary Fernando Alonso, completing the podium, his 106th in Formula 1, just 0.053 ahead of a frustrated Sergio Perez. They were followed by Lance Stroll, finishing a brilliant fifth in the other Aston Martin, and Carlos Sainz, who nursed his ailing car home in sixth. Gasly was seventh, Hamilton eighth, Tsunoda ninth, and Ocon was P10. Out of the points but still racing were Logan Sargeant, Nico Hulkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo, and Oscar Piastri.
There were six retirements at Interlagos, Russell, Bottas, Zhou, Magnussen, Albon, and Leclerc.
Lando Norris was voted Driver of the Day (Although, to us, it should have been Fernando Alonso).