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Tyres NorthamptonThe third and final part of Formula One's 2023 tripleheader is here, with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. After migrating south from Texas via Mexico City over the past weekends, Brazil will host three days of competitive action as Sprint returns one last time this season. With three years of the short-form format, this is the only circuit to see the Saturday race return every season, and F1 will hope for another barnstormer like in 2021.
Unlike the limited data the teams had to work with in Qatar's Sprint, Sao Paulo's Autódromo José Carlos Pace (AKA Interlagos) is steeped in F1 history. One solitary Free Practice session on Friday won't impact the 10 teams too much, with the sport visiting the Brazilian city for the 40th time since 1973. Whether that knowledge will translate to anyone other than Max Verstappen winning, though, is another story.
There's an unclear pecking order in the sport right now, as Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari alternate in shining and fading against Red Bull. Just three rounds remain in the season, and each is looking to find something to launch from to aid development and progress in their 2024 car development.
It's not all sunshine at the front, though. After a messy Mexico for Sergio Perez, the hopeful vice-champion will seek to silence his critics and turn in a well-overdue good performance. Despite driving the best car on the grid, Perez hasn't reached the podium since Italy, and questions about his immediate future continue to follow him around the Americas. Daniel Ricciardo, who many believe is Perez's likely successor, scored solid points and qualified well in Mexico City, further adding to the pressure.
Furthermore, F1's social media rumour mill went into overdrive this week, with some speculating Fernando Alonso is even in line for a Red Bull 2024 seat. The only certainty among so many unknowns is that Perez is underperforming and is running out of races to address his results.
Pirelli will lean towards the softer end of the 2023 tyre spectrum, bringing the C2, C3, and C4 rubber to Brazil for the Sprint weekend. The fast and flowing track has a little bit of everything around its short layout, with the tyres hanging on in low, medium, and high-speed corners.
The Italian tyre manufacturer predicts a two-stop race on Sunday, but Saturday's 100km run to the flag might give the teams additional information about tyre degradation in race conditions. As ever, with Brazil, biblical levels of rain can come almost out of nowhere to turn any grand prix on its head, although Friday looks the only day when rainfall threatens.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri enjoyed the thrill of crossing the line first in Qatar's Sprint, showing that Verstappen isn't invincible, and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz stepped up when the Dutchman stumbled in Singapore. Mercedes' George Russell scored his first and only F1 victory at the Brazilian track in 2022, too. All three, and their teammates, are the host of drivers looking to best the triple champion at a track he's only won at once.
Nonetheless, Verstappen will be the driver to beat on Saturday and Sunday. Damage to his car in 2022 prevented any Sprint or Grand Prix triumph, and Red Bull's RB19 is a superior machine to the already-impressive RB18. Mexico and the USA have shown that there isn't any lack of hunger from Verstappen, no matter how many victories he's claimed over the last two dominant years. Should anyone beat him to the line, it'll be a well-deserved win.
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There's no late-night television like the last two weekends, with primetime slots for all three days, culminating in the Grand Prix's 5 PM start time on Sunday.
Qualifying – On air: 5:30 PM, Session start: 6 PM Friday 3rd November
Sprint – On air: 5:30 PM, Session start: 6:30 PM Saturday 4th November
Race – On air: 3:30 PM, Session start: 5 PM Sunday 5th November
Qualifying/Sprint – Highlights: 11 PM Saturday 4th November, repeating at 8 AM Sunday 5th November
Race – Highlights: 10:35 AM Sunday 5th November, repeating at 8:25 AM Monday 6th November
Qualifying/Sprint/Race – High temperatures with a chance of rain during qualifying, with the air drying out and mercury dropping over the weekend, from highs of 31°C on Friday to 23°C on Sunday.