F1 update – Brazilian GP

Round 21 of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship was held at the Interlagos Circuit (a.k.a Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace) in Sao Paolo, Brazil for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ended a 10 race winless drought by winning from seventeenth on the grid heading home the Alpine’s of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly who finished second and third respectively.

Brazilian GP – top 5:

• 1st: Max Verstappen – Red Bull
• 2nd: Esteban Ocon – Alpine
• 3rd: Pierre Gasly – Alpine
• 4th: George Russell – Mercedes
• 5th: Charles Leclerc – Ferrari

Other highlights:

• Williams’s Alexander Albon would not start the race due to a massive crash in qualifying before the race.
• Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll would spin out on the formation lap and therefore would not take the start.
• Williams’s Franco Colapinto would crash out on lap 31 which bought out the red flag.
• Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz would crash out on lap 39 which bought out the safety car.
• Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg would become the first driver since 2007 to be disqualified during a race after spinning off and recieving an illegal push start from the track marshalls.

News:

• Chelmsford driver Oliver Bearman deputised for Kevin Magnussen at Haas due to Magnussen falling ill over the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.
• During the sprint race Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was given a 5 second time penalty for speeding under the virtual safety car, he was given 1 point on his licence bringing him to a total of 7 within a 12 month period.
• McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’s George Russell were given a 5,000 euro fine for a start line infringement.
• Mercedes were fined 10,000 euros for tyre pressure infringements on both their cars.
• Sauber announced that current Formula 2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto would race for the team alongside Nico Hulkenberg from 2025. He will become the first Brazilian driver since Felipe Massa in 2017 to race in Formula 1.
• Despite losing his seat at Sauber, Valtteri Bottas will return to Mercedes in a reserve driver role.

The next round of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship will held at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada for the Las Vegas Grand Prix on 21st – 23rd November.

Here’s Aston and regular contributor Cameron Perkins with the latest from the world of Formula 1.