2024 F1 Brazilian GP Preview: Sprint Race Returns
The 2024 F1 World Championship kicks off this weekend with the Brazilian Grand Prix, the third of a three-race series that includes the U.S. and Mexican GPs.
The Brazilian round will be held at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo, and this season will feature a single sprint race on Saturday in addition to the main race on Sunday. Brazil will host the fifth sprint race of the season, and the final round in Qatar will also feature a sprint race.
The Outdromo Jose Carlos Pace, known to fans as Interlagos because it is sandwiched between two lakes, is a short 2.7 miles (8.6 km) long, with lots of overtaking and drivers often going off the racing line.
As in the previous round in Mexico, the elevation is something teams need to be aware of. The circuit is located 2,625 feet above sea level, and the thin air affects all areas of car performance, especially aerodynamics and cooling.
In addition, there is usually a high probability that the safety car will be introduced, and the weather is changeable, making strategies uncertain and difficult to formulate. This year, a new asphalt will be laid down, which is another unknown factor for drivers and teams.
With the exception of the long uphill Archibancada, most corners are reasonably short and the lateral load on the tires is not too great. Pirelli nominated the softest compounds, C3, C4, and C5. [Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen leads the 2024 drivers' championship with 362 points. McLaren's Lando Norris is second with 315 points and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc is third with 291 points. In the Constructors' Championship, McLaren leads with 566 points. Ferrari is second with 537 points and Red Bull is third with 512 points. Last year's Brazilian GP winner was Red Bull's Verstappen.
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the death of legendary Brazilian racer Ayrton Senna, the McLaren MP4/5B, which Senna helped win the 1990 F1 title, will be in Sao Paulo. McLaren announced Thursday that former driver Lewis Hamilton will take the wheel in an exhibition run this weekend.
