4 rounds to go within the 2025 Formulation 1 season, with subsequent up being its solely journey to South America, on the iconic Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo. With a carnival environment and unpredictable climate, it’s a observe that usually gives drama, akin to when your information to the circuit – Nico Hulkenberg – secured pole place as a rookie for Williams again in 2010 (pictured above).
“I’ve all the time naturally had a great connection and feeling with this observe. One of many first issues that stands out, it is anti-clockwise – we do not have that many circuits within the season which are anti-clockwise anymore. So there’s a variety of left-hand corners, and it’s totally powerful for the neck on the left facet.
“I believe it is clear what you need to do with the setup, particularly now we’re in the direction of the top of the season. We all know our automobile fairly nicely, we all know the place roughly the window is and there is clearly fine-tuning going on within the background as common and particularly after Free Apply 1 – being a Dash weekend we solely have one observe and you then do a number of tweaks, a little bit of fine-tuning going into Dash qualifying.
“It was once fairly bumpy, however now they’ve resurfaced it once more, so we’ll see the way it is that this weekend. After which from a setup perspective you’ve gotten all the time that compromise right here between that large uphill lengthy straight all the way down to Flip 1 – the place you don’t need a variety of drag and downforce – however then the infield the place you form of want it.
“In order that’s the same old stability round right here, however the observe has a great movement, fairly a number of elevation adjustments which I personally love quite a bit, some banked corners, a bit warp within the circuit as nicely in lots of factors…
“It is simply one of many true basic, iconic tracks, and a lot historical past has taken place right here. Coming right here and driving in the direction of Interlagos after which driving into the circuit, you’re feeling that historical past and for me, I used to be all the time capable of join with that quite a bit.
“Curbs are one factor which have modified fairly a bit over time as nicely – they’ve modified them quite a bit. Now, there are a number of curbs nonetheless left that you would be able to take, however you have to take them in the fitting approach and hit them in the fitting angle, in any other case they are often fairly upsetting.
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Interlagos has made its curbs a bit much less aggressive however they will nonetheless catch you out, as they did Oliver Bearman final yr, giving then-teammate Hulkenberg one thing to consider… Sam Bloxham/Getty Photos
“To be trustworthy, there’s probably not one key part – it’s in all places and on condition that it is a brief lap time – it is about 1m10s or even beneath – the sector is all the time very compact, very densely grouped collectively, so it’s worthwhile to be dialed in each second of the lap.
“I had the pole place right here 15 years in the past however greater than that I believe it is simply the place is particular altogether. Simply the environment and the sensation you have being in Sao Paulo, being in Interlagos, that is the principle factor.
“And while you drive round and typically when you’ve gotten a gradual lap or one thing, you may have a glimpse on the grandstands and the Sao Paulo vibe is what makes it particular. There’s many, many cool locations across the lap.”
AT A GLANCE
Race distance: 71 laps/192.6 miles
2024 pole time: 1m23.405s (Lando Norris, McLaren)
2024 winner: Max Verstappen, Pink Bull
This yr’s tire compound choice for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix harks again to 2023, with the C2, C3 and C4 as Onerous, Medium and Mushy, subsequently one step more durable than the trio used final yr.
Final yr, the dry climate tires weren’t required for the race, however when used on Friday and Saturday morning, they confirmed excessive ranges of wear and tear in addition to graining, particularly on the rear axle. The circuit had been accomplished resurfaced, thus leaving a really easy floor, much less abrasive than in earlier years, though nonetheless with loads of bumps across the observe.
If circumstances are related, with the inevitable variations as a result of growing older of the asphalt, the choice to convey more durable compounds might thus lengthen the efficiency lifetime of the tires, that are already extra proof against degradation than the 2024 vary. That may permit the Mushy to return into play, which final yr was solely used for Dash qualifying.
MSC CRUISES SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX WEEKEND SCHEDULE (all instances ET):
Friday, November 7
9:25am – 10:30am – Free Apply 1, ESPN2
1:25pm – 2:30pm – Dash Qualifying, ESPN2
Saturday, November 8
8:55am – 10:00am – Dash, ESPN2
12:55pm – 2:00pm – GP Qualifying, ESPNews
Sunday, November 9
11:55am – 2:00pm – Sao Paulo Grand Prix (71 laps or 120 minutes), ESPN2
