1122nd F1 GRAND PRIX | 4th SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX | 42nd GRAND PRIX AT INTERLAGOS
2023 POLESITTER: MAX VERSTAPPEN | 2023 WINNER: MAX VERSTAPPEN
Interlagos has been the scene of plenty of title deciders in Formula 1’s recent history. The 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix is set to take place on November 1-3.
2024 SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX: WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday November 1
Free Practice 1 – 11:30am Local Time / 2:30pm UK Time
Sprint Qualifying – 3:30pm Local Time / 6:30pm UK Time
Saturday November 2
Sprint – 11:00am Local Time / 2:00pm UK Time
Qualifying – 3:00pm Local Time / 6:00pm UK Time
Sunday November 3
The 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix – 2:00pm Local Time / 5:00pm UK Time
2024 SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX: WEEKEND MILESTONES
A win at the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix would see Lewis Hamilton equal Michael Schumacher’s record of four wins at Interlagos.
Ferrari currently hold the record for most team wins at Interlagos, with nine. That number could be equalled by McLaren at the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
McLaren currently hold the record for most F1 wins overall in Brazil, with 12. Ferrari could equal the record at the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
A top three finish for Fernando Alonso would see him equal Michael Schumacher’s record of ten podium finishes at Interlagos.
READ MORE IN MILESTONES AND RECORDS TO BREAK
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2024 SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX
WHAT HAS CHANGED AT THE CIRCUIT SINCE LAST YEAR?
Since last year, the entire track and pit lane at Interlagos has been resurfaced. A layer of concrete has replaced grass pavers at Turn 7, where the guardrail and tyre barrier have also been realigned. New debris fences have been installed between Turns 13 & 14, while the debris fence between Turns 14 & 1 has been replaced.
HOW MANY DRS ZONES WILL THERE BE AT THE 2024 SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX?
There will be two DRS zones at the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The activation zones are located on the main straight and between Turns 3 & 4.
INTERLAGOS TRACK GUIDE
Since its arrival on the calendar in 1973, the Interlagos track in Sao Paulo, Brazil has hosted some dramatic races. The passionate fans together with the old school nature of the track layout always make the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend one to remember.
The Interlagos track is situated nine miles from the city centre of Sao Paulo. The neighbourhood had originally been plotting a racing circuit back in the 1920s, but this didn’t come to fruition for quite some time. Brazil’s history with motor racing began in 1934, with races on the Gavea circuit in Rio de Janeiro. Sao Paulo itself held a street race in 1936, but this was marred by a crash which resulted in the deaths of six spectators.
The plot of land which the Interlagos track is situated on – Interlagos meaning ‘between two lakes’ – had been set aside in 1926 for building houses on. However, such was the environment, the plot of land laid empty for years as it was unsuitable for the houses to be built. The financial situation due to the stock market crash in 1929 was also a factor in the area laying dormant. It instead became home to a demanding race track. The idea for a permanent circuit in the area was mooted in 1938, and was built by a construction company named Sanson over the next two years.
F1’s first venture into Brazil came in 1972 – the same year which the country had their first Brazilian F1 World Champion – and Carlos Reutemann won a non-championship round. The event proved Interlagos’ capability of holding a race, and in 1973 the circuit became home to the Brazilian Grand Prix.
READ MORE IN OUR ULTIMATE TRACK GUIDE
WHO WILL BE IN THE 2024 SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX PRESS CONFERENCES?
The world’s media will have the opportunity to talk to the drivers ahead of the on-track action. The drivers appearing in the press conference for this race are:
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Franco Colapinto (Williams)
Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
The media will also be talking to prominent members of Formula 1’s teams in a separate press conference over the race weekend. The team members appearing in the press conference are:
Mario Isola (Pirelli)
Andrea Stella (McLaren)
James Vowles (Williams)
WHO WILL BE THE RACE DIRECTOR AT THE 2024 SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX?
Niels Wittich will be the race director at the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
WHO WILL BE THE DRIVER STEWARD AT THE 2024 SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX?
Each weekend a former Formula 1 driver, or a driver from another prominent series of motorsport, joins the stewards to help judge any incidents from a drivers’ perspective. The Driver Steward this weekend is Johnny Herbert.
WHICH TYRE COMPOUNDS WILL BE USED AT THE 2024 SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX?
Like last year, Pirelli will supply the C3, C4 and C5 tyre compounds for the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME AT THE SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX?
Verstappen took his 17th win of the season at the 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix in a race which will be remembered for the last lap battle between Alonso and Perez.
Interlagos hosted the final Sprint weekend of the 2023 season, so qualifying for the Grand Prix took place under ever-darkening skies on Friday afternoon. Max Verstappen secured the fastest lap time in the opening minutes of Q3, while his closest challenger Oscar Piastri had an off-track excursion in the final sector before the heavens opened. Such was the intensity of the rain, the session was red-flagged.
The weather had brightened come the Sprint Shootout on Saturday morning. SQ1 was punctuated by a red flag period following a collision between Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon, which saw the Alpine head into the barriers. McLaren’s pace was proving to be a challenge to Red Bull on Friday and that continued on Saturday. Lando Norris set the fastest lap time in SQ3 to take his first pole position – albeit for a Sprint rather than a Grand Prix – in over two years.
Norris and Verstappen lined up on the front row at the start of the Sprint and by Turn 1, Verstappen had taken the lead while both Mercedes drivers passed Sergio Perez through the opening corners. George Russell was soon on the tail of Norris’ McLaren and an audacious move saw him take second place, while Perez re-passed Lewis Hamilton for fourth.
On Lap 5, Norris re-took second place from Russell, while Perez followed the McLaren driver through three laps later; only for Russell to then re-pass him. At a track which famously promotes overtaking, there were plenty of passes taking place throughout the field.
Despite Norris closing to nearly within DRS range of Verstappen with around ten laps of the Sprint remaining, the race leader extended his advantage slightly and secured the final Sprint win of the year. Perez finished third, with Russell fourth and both Charles Leclerc and Yuki Tsunoda passing Hamilton in the closing stages.
Charles Leclerc crashed on his way to the grid ahead of Sunday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix. That meant that Verstappen was the only front row starter, giving him a clear run to Turn 1 as race leader. Further back, there was a collision between Alex Albon and Kevin Magnussen, which eliminated both drivers from the race. Daniel Ricciardo’s rear wing was hit by debris, causing damage.
The red flag was shown as a result of the crash, under which repairs could take place to the damaged cars which had not retired – namely Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri. Both drivers were shown as a lap down when racing resumed.
The race restarted with a standing start on Lap 4. This time, Verstappen had Norris on the front row alongside him but was still able to hold a comfortable lead. Fernando Alonso made up a position, passing Hamilton for third at Turn 4.
Norris remained on Verstappen’s tail and challenged him for the lead at the start of Lap 8. The challenge was fruitless and the McLaren soon dropped out of DRS range. Perez and Russell went wheel-to-wheel on Lap 14 as the Red Bull driver made up a position. He gained another four laps later, this time passing the other Mercedes.
The Mercedes drivers continued to lose positions on a day to forget, while Verstappen continued to extend his lead out at the front. Russell retired on Lap 59. The latter stages were dominated by a battle for the final podium position between Perez and Alonso. Alonso had held his position despite intense pressure from the Mexican until the final lap. Perez got ahead midway around the lap only to be passed once more by Alonso in a drag race to the finish line.
Alonso secured third place by just 0.053 seconds, while Verstappen claimed his 17th Grand Prix victory of the 2023 season by finishing eight seconds ahead of Norris.
WHAT’S THE FASTEST EVER LAP AT THE SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX?
Attending the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix? Learn more about visiting Interlagos in the F1Destinations Travel Guide.