MOTORSPORT – F1’s weekend in Brazil had something for everyone. Whether you are new to the sport, or a seasoned follower, Interlagos offered a race weekend full of action, entertainment, as well as the crowning of a new constructors’ champion.
As is often the case in Brazil, the weather was a contributing factor, with the rain an ever-present threat. This had an impact on qualifying, with torrential downpours halting activity for well over an hour. Another element which added to the mixer of a hugely entertaining weekend was the number of drivers who were subject to grid penalties. This included Max Verstappen, George Russell, as well as both Ferraris. With four top drivers out of position when the race got underway, combined with the weather factor, the historic nature of the circuit and its reputation for entertaining racing, it’s no wonder that fans were treated to one of the races of the season.
In qualifying, Lando Norris had put his car on pole and ended up being the only driver to start the race from his qualifying position, given the number of grid penalties behind him. He was joined on the front row by the new world champion Kimi Antonelli, who had been pushed ahead of Russell, given his five-place penalty. Lawson and Hulkenberg were on the second row, followed by Hadjar and Bearman, all of whom had been moved up the order by the myriad of grid penalties. At the back, Verstappen was in 21st, with Hamilton 20th.
The race itself was a masterclass of driving in the wet, whilst managing tyre strategies according to the changeable weather. In the case of Verstappen, it was also a masterclass in overtaking. Within ten laps, he had gone from 21st to sixth and would finish the race in a hugely impressive second place. It wasn’t the first and won’t be the last occasion he has torn through the field and achieved a podium finish. It’s one of the many reasons why many in the sport put him up there as one of the true greats.
Ahead of Verstappen, it was Norris who produced a controlled and tactically astute race to take his first win since Madrid in the summer. Whilst he didn’t get off to the best of starts – he dropped down to third off the start line – he recovered swiftly to take victory by a comfortable 14 seconds. McLaren had arrived in Brazil as pretty much the only team with upgrades to the car, the most significant of which was a newly designed front wing. These improvements were evident throughout the race weekend and the comfortable nature of the victory will have done much to boost the mood of the Woking-based team. With the 2027 car development already well underway and no major changes to regulations for next year, upgrades towards the end of the season, and the time the team has to test them in the remaining races, are crucial for prospects next year.
The remaining podium place was a well-deserved third for Hadjar, who again showed his competitive nature in the second Red Bull car. Behind him, the Mercedes pair of Antonelli and Russell were classified fourth and fifth. With Leclerc and Hamilton only managing eighth and ninth, the points haul for the Silver Arrows pair was enough to clinch the championship. It was their first Constructors’ win since 2021, but was also Toto Wolff’s ninth championship victory in total, putting him level with the great Frank Williams.
It is sometimes claimed by some in the sport that the Constructors’ Championship carries less importance than the Drivers’ crown. Try telling that to the scores of Mercedes personnel celebrating on the podium after the official ceremony for the top three had concluded. The celebrations, whilst clearly pre-planned for fans and broadcast to showcase the new team champions, showed genuine joy on the face of every team member, including both drivers and team bosses. It was a delight to watch, even for neutral fans, and recognised the efforts of a team who have done a phenomenal job in the first year of the new regulations of building a car which has dominated the season.
Whilst the two championships have now been decided, there is still plenty to look forward to for the remainder of the season. F1 takes a break this week, before heading to Las Vegas for what is always an incredible showcase for the sport in North America. Following that, we then have the final leg of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, as drivers and teams settle the final positions for the championship with a close eye on how these final races can be used to support the development of the 2027 cars.
* Laurence Jones is senior manager, Marketing and Communications, Bahrain International Circuit
l.jones@bic.com.bh
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