2022 Formula One Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Charles Leclerc Brazilian Grand Prix.jpg
With just two races remaining in the 2022 Formula 1 season, the teams head to Brazil to take on one of the most historic and exciting circuits on the calendar.

Autódromo José Carlos Pace is the site of F1 racing action this weekend. Last year, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were in the midst of a fierce championship battle, and Brazil proved to be one of the most exciting races of that championship.

This year's race has no such uncertainty or drama, as Verstappen and his Red Bull team have been very much in control of the drivers' and constructors' championship for most of the season.

The Interlagos circuit, however, typically produces exciting racing action from the F1 grid, and this year should be no exception. Its long, DRS-enhanced start/finish straight gives drivers ample opportunity to set up overtakes into turn 1, and a second DRS zone follows just a few corners later.

The circuit has remained largely unchanged for the past 30 years, and its windy, hilly nature has been home to epic F1 memories such as Hamilton's last-to-first weekend in 2021, Verstappen's brilliant wet weather driving in 2016, and Ayrton Senna's unforgettable first home win in 1991 despite having only 6th gear by the end of the race.

This is a sprint race weekend, meaning that the race starting order will be decided with a shortened race on Saturday. The weather is looking unkind all weekend, with rain in the forecast for all three days of the grand prix.

Could the weather make for interesting results this weekend? Who do you think will take the win on Sunday? Let us know in the comments below.
About author
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

Comments

Regarding Verstappen and what should be done about him refusing to comply with team orders: nothing is likely to happen except the usual P.S. crap like "we discussed it after the race and the matter is settled."

Like it or not, he's RBR's golden boy and Perez is a #2 driver who could easily be replaced tomorrow. If Perez wants to keep his drive, he just has to suck it up and move on. Being a #2 driver to a star like MV has a good side: you get to drive a good car and get a win or two during the season. The bad side: you're a glorified lackey to the star. Think of Barrichello with Schumacher or Bottas with Hamilton. Perez is on the same level as these two in terms of talent (although I'd rate Barrichello higher).
He just can't even get close to MV. Look at all the trouble Max had during the race, and at the end of the race he still ends up before Checo who started 2nd.
So that's why he is the 2nd driver. He's good but still at least half a second slower than Max.
 
Premium
what I read here in the Netherlands has to do with Perez admitting he crashed deliberately so Verstappen couldn't grab a polo in Monaco this year.

Biased dutch media (maar echt). And even if what they say about Monaco is true, his behaviour on track and on the radio showed that Verstappen is yet unable to rise above his own ego. And that is one essential trait of true champions, in any sport.
 
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I am actually a fan of Verstappen, not a supporter but a fan, however, I find it hard to understand the reasoning behind his not allowing Perez by. Even if it was anything to do with Monaco, I feel he has supported Verstappen well, albeit that might be just a by-product of his doing the best he can for himself at each race. As much as I'm not happy with Verstappen for this I certainly don't feel the desire to join other sheep with pitchforks to vent their toxicity towards Verstappen. I do feel this gang of pitchfork sheep is Hamilton fans venting like they do too often. The incident at turn 2 is another example.

I don't think is all 'sheep with pitchforks'... In any sport, fans that love that sport want to see competitors, especially champions, display certain traits. Sportsmanship, teamwork and reciprocity are three of those. For example, Schumacher and Senna were ruthless at times but they learned when to oblige and return their team's support by favouring their teammate, rising above their own egos. Max not only refused to do this but felt entitled to it and was outspoken about it. That's three strikes right there, showing he has yet to learn these traits himself. Reason why people who love F1 as a sport are openly 'pitchforking' about it.
 
Biased dutch media (maar echt). And even if what they say about Monaco is true, his behaviour on track and on the radio showed that Verstappen is yet unable to rise above his own ego. And that is one essential trait of true champions, in any sport.
a kind of skysport bias only they have been writing about their hero and the bad man for two years. Max is under a magnifying glass. tall trees catch a lot of wind. He will also have to learn from this. He seems annoyed
 
Gentlemen, a short view back to the past...

At the 2021 Silverstone GP, Max Verstappen and his fans (and detractors of Lewis Hamilton) were convinced that a murder attempt had taken place simply because Hamilton, on the inside of a corner, who was not ahead but had significant overlap, hit Verstappen's car because Hamilton did not back out and Verstappen left no room for error, causing a collision. They were adamant that it wasn't a racing incident, and Hamilton should be punished severely. Hamilton received a 10 sec stop-and-go time penalty and was allowed to continue. They continued for the rest of the season saying that 10 seconds was not enough, the punishment too light.

1 year later, at the 2022 Sao Paolo GP, Max Verstappen, on the inside of a corner, who was not ahead but had significant overlap, hit Hamilton's car because Verstappen did not back out and Hamilton left no room for error, causing a collision. The Max Verstappen fans/Hamilton detractors are now also adamant that it wasn't a racing incident, but, unlike the 2021 incident, they claim it was Hamilton on the outside who should have backed off, and not Verstappen on the inside. They lay the blame solely on Hamilton and claim Verstappen being penalized at all is outrageous. Verstappen received a 5 second (not 10) time penalty.

Question to whom it concerns: How can Silverstone 2021 be considered as "Max's corner only" and not both drivers, with Lewis 100% at fault on the inside...and Sao Paulo 2022 be considered as "both drivers' corner" and not Lewis' corner, with Lewis 100% at fault on the outside? Has keeping track of your favourite driver become so complicated, that you can't keep your rules straight? Do we need less rules?...More? Can we finally address the elephant in the room as to why one driver is always at fault no matter the circumstance or will this song and dance continue ad nauseum?

And gentlemen please do not forget my first question.

;)
Simple difference (apart from the actual danger of the corner, Copse being considerably faster with not much run off...thus VERY dangerous if an incident occurs compared to t2 at Brazil)....Max left room at the Apex for Copse, Lewis TOOK the Apex in Brazil knowing Max was there and had nowhere to go. Hence Max largley blameless for Copse and Lewis 50% for Brazil..
 
Premium
I agree that Max should have helped teammate Perez. no misunderstanding but I also think these people are ruthless assholes. There must be some more going on between these two that we don't know
Motor racing is much like early dating... (good guys stay virgins) the Ar**oles get the desired rides because they have something that matters and that turns them into selfish conceited single-minded takers, the nice guy say, "after you Claude" and rarely get a look in.

We (many of us) see Jenson Button as a nice guy that won, but the reality of it is, if he was in a bunch of a dozen guys he would no doubt be considered the selfish arse.
 
Biased dutch media (maar echt). And even if what they say about Monaco is true, his behaviour on track and on the radio showed that Verstappen is yet unable to rise above his own ego. And that is one essential trait of true champions, in any sport.

I don't think is all 'sheep with pitchforks'... In any sport, fans that love that sport want to see competitors, especially champions, display certain traits. Sportsmanship, teamwork and reciprocity are three of those. For example, Schumacher and Senna were ruthless at times but they learned when to oblige and return their team's support by favouring their teammate, rising above their own egos. Max not only refused to do this but felt entitled to it and was outspoken about it. That's three strikes right there, showing he has yet to learn these traits himself. Reason why people who love F1 as a sport are openly 'pitchforking' about it.
people have just started watching f1 again because of Verstappen so they also have a lot to thank outside of this round of complaining
 
Similarly, look at the angle Verstappen took into Copse in that race BEFORE the moment of impact...even though Hamilton did understeer into him and didn't hit the apex, if you look at Verstappen's angle before impact he was closing the door.
No he wasn't, that's just beyond ludicrous....he steered hard right because duh you HAVE to at 170 mph to get round Copse. Analysis of the racing lines clearly shows Max was on a wide line (took too much speed in ) Lewis was on the dirty inside part of Copse, backed out of it but too late and understeered....if you understeer at corner entry and a car is on your oustide what is going to happen EVERY time?
 
Regarding Verstappen and what should be done about him refusing to comply with team orders: nothing is likely to happen except the usual P.S. crap like "we discussed it after the race and the matter is settled."

Like it or not, he's RBR's golden boy and Perez is a #2 driver who could easily be replaced tomorrow. If Perez wants to keep his drive, he just has to suck it up and move on. Being a #2 driver to a star like MV has a good side: you get to drive a good car and get a win or two during the season. The bad side: you're a glorified lackey to the star. Think of Barrichello with Schumacher or Bottas with Hamilton. Perez is on the same level as these two in terms of talent (although I'd rate Barrichello higher).
Exactly...Perez is a good driver, but not top tier level. He's number 2 and has to accept it. Max did was Max does...he's a ruthless B'stard, a LOT of champions have been exactly that.
 
Motor racing is much like early dating... (good guys stay virgins) the Ar**oles get the desired rides because they have something that matters and that turns them into selfish conceited single-minded takers, the nice guy say, "after you Claude" and rarely get a look in.

We (many of us) see Jenson Button as a nice guy that won, but the reality of it is, if he was in a bunch of a dozen guys he would no doubt be considered the selfish arse.
I was going to agree, but can't when you mentioned Button. I truly don't think he was that ruthless. I do agree most winning drivers are that way inclined, but there are exceptions like Button.
 
Premium
Quite a few drivers have contested corners with Max, even if most times, only in one lap or just a few but there's only one precious driver who's car seems to have clashes with Max's car.
Just saying.
 
Exactly...Perez is a good driver, but not top tier level. He's number 2 and has to accept it. Max did was Max does...he's a ruthless B'stard, a LOT of champions have been exactly that.
Yes but, talking about PR, which Max doesn't seem to care at all, couldn't he consider that maybe it's nice to be liked?

I know it's me, but considering being LOVED by Mexico fans or being HATED by Mexico fans, I would have given up those points lol. I wanna be loved in the Netherlands and in Mexico and probably by many other people who would have considered it a token of gratitude to everything Checo has done. Maybe that's why I don't have the mentality needed to be an F1 driver, but it's nice to be liked lol.
 
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Yes but, talking about PR, which Max doesn't seem to care at all, couldn't he consider that maybe it's nice to be liked?

I know it's me, but considering being LOVED by Mexico fans or being HATED by Mexico fans, I would have given up those points lol. I wanna be loved in the Netherlands and in Mexico and probably by many other people who would have considered it a token of gratitude to everything Checo has done. Maybe that's why I don't have the mentality needed to be an F1 driver, but it's nice to be liked lol.
I see what you're saying, most of us like to be liked :)
You can't say that Max is false though, he doesn't say or act just to be liked.
Regarding Max and Sergio though. With Mercedes now with a winning car (probably should have won both US and Mexico GPs too} and with equal drivers, should Red Bull consider an equal team-mate to join Max to compete against Merc next year?
 
Premium
Some pretty good races this weekend, loads of talking points.

Love the Russell double, bloke was pretty much faultless all weekend, neither one a stroll in the park either, overtaking the best car of the season in the Sprint, and surviving a couple of SC's which eroded some fairly comfortable leads he'd built. Glad he's got his chance in a top team, he seems like he can get the most out of a car, but doesn't do it with any histrionics.

Of the other incidents:-
* Not sure I'd fancy driving these cars around Lance Stroll under ANY circumstances - blokes a moving stunt ramp
* Ricciardo looks like he's already on the beach in his head and Schumacher didn't need that extra bit of bad luck
* Ocon can be a bit of wobbler at times, but to me it looks more like Alonso was at fault on both things he moaned about (and he's a magnificent moaner)
* Hamilton and Verstappen one (putting my head in the Lion's mouth) looked a nailed on Racing Incident to me. I was surprised when Verstappen got a pen for that...but that was exactly the sort of move he was putting on drivers back when he didn't have the fastest car by a mile, plonking the car there and essentially saying to the other driver "back off or we hit". Most of them were called Racing Incidents to be fair. In this case, the other driver made his choice.
* Verstappen and Perez - less than impressive conduct on this one allround at RB - they don't exactly make it easy for the neutral to get behind them.
 
Oh, there's no question most of the great F1 drivers are selfish prima-donnas who would wreck their own mothers to win a title or a race. Eh not just F1, I'd say that applies to most of the all-time greats across all of motorsport. Let's say Perez did crash intentionally in Monaco to thwart Max - does ANYONE think Max wouldn't have done the same? There's plenty of evidence in his career already to suggest if necessary he'd turn straight into anyone if it would secure whatever it is he's after on a given day. And of course, that's nothing new in the sport - he's hardly the first.

My distaste for Max's behavior here is that he's already clinched the title, the record for most race wins in a season, and Checo has probably (I don't remember but I'd bank on it) been told to move aside for Max at least a few times. Perez has done the job a #2 driver is supposed to do, Max wasn't racing for a win or podium, and his teammate DOES have something at stake that he could do something about. If this was earlier in the season I'd say fair play, everyone race for themselves. But, there's a time and place to follow team orders even if you are the brightest star in the F1 sky, and this was one of them. And he wouldn't do it. The only thing to gain from it was to screw his teammate with literally nothing to gain for himself.

Hell of a racing driver. Also, I don't like him. Nothing wrong with that.
 

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