Brazilian Grand Prix Day 3 Recap

We were on for another chaotic and historic day this Sunday around the Interlagos circuit in Brazil, as we were treated to the main race and qualifying on the same day for only the 6th time in the sport’s illustrious history. Keen to know what happened? Keep reading to find out!

Qualifying

Monsoon rains meant that the qualifying session, which is normally held on Saturday had to be postponed to the Sunday just before the race start, giving us fans a unique experience that hasn’t happened since the Japanese Grand Prix in 2019. This session was filled with action, drama, and plenty of red flags. Lando Norris once again secured pole position for McLaren despite the chaotic conditions and several red flags throughout the three sessions.

It was a rollercoaster ride from start to finish, and the first red flag was triggered by Franco Colapinto’s crash. Then, Carlos Sainz’s crash brought out the second red flag, with another crash for Lance Stroll bringing out another Red. The fourth red flag of the session was caused by Fernando Alonso’s crash, while a massive shunt for Alex Albon stopped the session once again and ruled out the Thai driver from competing for the rest of the Grand Prix weekend.

Overall, it is safe to say that this was a thrilling qualifying session that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The unpredictable conditions and numerous red flags made for a chaotic but exciting spectacle and set the stage for yet another exciting Brazilian Grand Prix.

Lando Norris McLaren 1:23.405
George Russel Mercedes 1:23.578
Yuki Tsunoda RB 1:24.111

Race

To say that this was one of the most thrilling races of the 2024 season would be a massive understatement, as Max Verstappen stormed his way to victory despite starting all the way back in P17. Critics have noted that “ Only five out of 1,121 previous world championship races have been won from 17th or lower” which just goes onto show how impressive the Dutchman’s performance this weekend actually was.

The race was filled with drama right from the start, with Lance Stroll spinning off during the formation lap, leading to a chaotic start procedure. The race was then red-flagged twice due to heavy rain and crashes, with the second restart seeing Verstappen take the lead from Esteban Ocon. Despite facing pressure from the Alpine driver, Verstappen held firm to secure a remarkable victory.

Another highlight of the race was the double podium finish for Alpine, with Ocon and Gasly finishing second and third respectively. This was a fantastic result for the team, who have struggled for consistency this season.

The race was not without controversy, with a number of drivers being investigated for various infringements. Lando Norris, George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda, and Liam Lawson were all investigated for a starting procedure infringement, while Mercedes was investigated for a tire pressure infringement.

Max Verstappen Red Bull 2:06:54.430
Esteban Ocon Alpine +19.477s
Pierre Gasly Alpine +22.532s

Overall, the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend was certainly thrilling and unpredictable and will be remembered for years to come. What will happen next weekend as we head to Las Vegas? Stay tuned to Supercars.com.GH to find out!