Grand Prix thread Heineken Grande Prêmio De São Paulo 2021

71 laps of the 4.309-kilometre Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Brazil

12th November Practice 1 15:30 - 16:30
12th November Qualifying 19:00 - 20:00
13th November Practice 2 15:00 - 16:00
13th November Sprint 19:30 - 20:00
14th November Race 17:00 - 19:00

All times are UK times
Poll closes before SPRINT race.

 

Urggg.... sprint race

 

It might be interesting at the front for this sprint race but in general the reward isnt all that much to push and move up the grid. Can teams pass in turn 1 is the question I guess.

I like brazil and inter legos track in terms of drama and where you can pull a move off but the real test of sprints is whether teams give an f.

Hamilton needs every point so Friday quali is critical.and then really is a dash off the first corner and that could be that.

 

The Sprint is an interesting one as the guys normally at the front need to get to the front for the actual race but there are big penalties for not doing well and taking it too cautiously. They will have to be so careful as 1 little mistake in Sprint could mean a big drop for the start grid.
I think the problem is the top 6 teams are so close to their competitive pair (as in 3 sets of 2), the risks they can afford to take are minimal. 1st to 2nd is only 1 point, 3rd to 4th 13.5 points and 4th and 5th are tied!!
Aston, Williams, Alfa and Haas really have very little to lose in the Sprint but will they want to risk where they are?

Also they all have to keep in mind crash repair costs as they must be getting a bit close to the budget caps.

So I see way too much at stake for the Sprint to be anything other than a procession!!!!

 

I see what you mean, one of hamilton/verstappen punting it in corner 1 = a 20 place penalty on sunday. It is a very good way of looking at risk and reward.

 

A sprint race also a little tougher on the engine perhaps?

I wonder if Hamilton will take an engine penalty, turn the wick up for sprint points, and take the chance on Sunday that he can pass his way to the podium?

 

How do the rules work for the penalties with the sprint?

Say they just turn up all ready to go with the new engine (PU only like last time) and have a 10 place penalty.

Can he take p1 full on then win the sprint and the penalty is only applied in the race?

Bottas certainly improved his running in quali if not his results with the new engine and hamilton certainly picked up.

It would be a net -3point weekend plus a new engine for the final 3 races but they would be depending on something happening with bottas beating verstappen somewhere.

 

good question mate- I’m not sure how penalties work on sprint weekends- il try and find out but the paddock is awash with word Hamilton is taking a new PU so Sky will be there explaining it to us this evening i would have thought!

 

Hamilton taking a new pu is fairly disastrous really so theres a big onus on bottas here to get involved.

Right now winning the sprint is going to be critical for Hamilton.

 

It's applied to the race if I remember correctly. The sprint is essentially qualifying.

 

Went Max. Seems a bit of a no brainer. And he's hexproof so I'm pretty safe.

 

I think you are right, penalties served on race start grid.

 

Bit of drizzle for fp1 and met office forecast is for same foe quali later this evening!
Sat and Sun forecast is for dry.

Seems like Lewis has new ice so 5 place grid penalty for Sunday!

Just a though, as we may have wet quali today how do they set their cars up? They all need to qualify as high as possible for sprint but if they use wet setup for quali then they are compromised for sprint and race!

 

Mercedes potentially losing a championship to Honda because they took more grid penalties. Imagine being told that in 2015.

Lewis needs some rainy chaos in Qualy here to hinder RBR. If Max and Perez both beat Lewis here the title fight is going to start looking very bleak for him.

 

I am voting Max.
If I was Lewis, if I qualified on pole I would fight for the win without an engine change. It might be less damaging to do the engine change on a track he can, or is expected to, perform well i.e. half a chance of catching Max and overtaking him.
Max should take the title this year given his momentum and confidence, if he doesn't, I give him permission to kick himself.

 

Anything but a dnf and Max will wrap up the title this weekend in all but name.

 

They're going to have to pull out all the stops in the last three races. Realistically this race is likey a lost cause as far as winning is concerned. So makes a ton of sense to take a hit now, and go in to the last three with the advantage of a new motor.

 

It’s also fantastic in a way- I so wanted McLaren to succeed with Honda but they did not help Honda at all with some of their asks at that early stage and the minute they went to alpha Tauri and then red bull it was always going to end up them fighting at the top.

The only sad thing is them leaving!

 

Hamilton is back to the wall here. Hoping for fireworks.

 

It's a bit gutting really, we've waited since 2012 for a 2 team 2 driver battle to the flag and after a strong start to the season season it's all kind of fizzled out for the last third.