Brazilian GP Day 2 Recap 🏆🌧️ | McLaren’s Big Moves & Verstappen’s Penalty Drama!

To say that Day 2 of the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix was a rollercoaster ride would be an understatement. We had everything from a nail-biting Sprint race to a controversial stewards decision, an unforeseen penalty, and the unstoppable intervention of Mother Nature all wrapped up in one, and today, we’re going to tell you all about it!

We kicked off the Saturday with the Sprint race, with the McLarens starting up front. Oscar Piastri, on pole, took an early lead, stretching his advantage over teammate Lando Norris. Max Verstappen, starting fourth, made a bold move on Charles Leclerc for third, setting the stage for an exciting race.

As the race progressed, the McLaren duo continued to dominate, seemingly untouchable. However, a strategic twist unfolded as the race entered its final laps. McLaren decided to switch their drivers, placing Norris ahead of Piastri just moments before a VSC was called due to a Haas coming to a stop at the edge of the track. This move, while not surprising, showcased the team’s backing of Norris to help him secure maximum points for the championship.

Norris, now leading the race, faced a stern challenge from Verstappen. The Red Bull driver, known for his aggressive overtaking maneuvers, was relentless in his pursuit. Despite his best efforts, Verstappen couldn’t quite close the gap.

The late Virtual Safety Car added another layer of complexity to the race as Verstappen, who was above the minimum lap time during the VSC, was penalized five seconds post-race, dropping him to fourth. This promoted Leclerc to the third position, which undoubtedly will help Ferrari’s charge to the Constructor’s title.

Norris’s victory and Piastri’s second-place finish are crucial for McLaren’s constructors’ championship bid. With the championship battle heating up, every point matters, and McLaren has certainly maximized their opportunity in the Sao Paulo Sprint.

The paddock was looking forward to the qualifying session for the main Grand Prix today as well, but a massive rainstorm put an end to those expectations. As a result, qualifying will now take place on Sunday for only the sixth time in the Sport’s history, so stay tuned to Supercars.com.GH to find out who comes out on top!

Trust us when we say that Sprint Qualifying was even more EPIC, as the young Aussie clad in McLaren’s Papaya orange shocked everyone by topping the timesheet in SQ1, even with the darkness of rain looming above. Championship leader Verstappen was looking sharp as well, but a looming penalty cast a shadow on his Sunday chances. Meanwhile, veterans like Alonso and Hamilton got knocked out early, failing to make the cut for the intense Q3.

The final showdown was a nail-biter! Piastri and Norris led the charge for McLaren, but Ferrari’s Leclerc – winner in the USA – wasn’t giving up anytime soon. In an unbelievable finish, Piastri pulled off a miracle, edging out his teammate by a hair’s width to claim a sensational Sprint Qualifying pole for the second time in his career! The McLaren duo locked out the front row, leaving Verstappen and Leclerc scrambling from behind at P3 and 4 respectively. Excited? Stay tuned to Supercars.com.GH for full coverage of this exciting Grand Prix weekend!