Red Bull is normally strong in Brazil, but there is a lot of risk with this race weekend
Last weekend Max Verstappen won with a comfortable lead in Mexico. The car worked phenomenally and no one managed to get close to the Dutchman after the first corner. Unfortunately for Max, Bottas took the fastest lap at the last minute. This weekend the F1 teams will travel to São Paulo for the Brazilian GP. It is a place where Red Bull can pick up some points, but the structure of the weekend also means there is a risk.
In the past we see that Interlagos is a circuit where the Red Bull functions very well. Verstappen managed to win the race in 2019 and would have won in 2018 if he hadn’t gotten a knock from Ocon. Driving the Red Bull car well over the curbs and so they cut the corner a bit, which saves time. The circuit also has many zones where good traction is important and the Red Bull is also strong in that area. To put it bluntly, the Red Bull is usually very strong in a twisty circuit.
Will the sprint race cause chaos again?
Still, it will be an unpredictable weekend with a great risk. This weekend the weekend format will be changed again and we will see the third sprint race of this season. Qualifying first takes place on Friday. Qualifying determines the starting grid of a short sprint race. The result of that sprint race again determines the final grid position for the race on Sunday. The previous sprint races were held in the GP of Italy and the GP of Great Britain.
Both times the 100 kilometer sprint race went well for Verstappen, but on Sundays it went a lot less well for the Dutchman. Verstappen came into contact with Hamilton at both Silverstone and Monza. He never reached the finish on Sunday after a sprint race. This is a crucial stage in the championship for the two drivers and they cannot afford to leave Brazil with zero points. But it’s unlikely that they’ll race against each other less as a result.
What about the points?
Verstappen is currently 19 points ahead of Hamilton. If Hamilton is first and Verstappen second, then Verstappen will keep his first place in the championship. If Verstappen drops out and Hamilton is second, then Verstappen will also remain in number one. If Verstappen is seventh and Hamilton is first, they are tied in the championship. Basically it means that both drivers have to drive the race with due caution. Finishing with zero points while your rival does take points can cost the world title.
Dates and times of the 2021 Brazil GP
Friday 12 November 2021
1st free practice: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Qualification: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday 13 November 2021
2nd free practice: 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Sprint: 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Sunday 14 November 2021
Race: 6:00 PM
