São Paulo,
01
November
2024
Conditions-Friday-BR24-EN
The highly anticipated fifth Sprint race of the season is set to commence tomorrow at 11 o’clock local time, showcasing an impressive all-McLaren front row. Oscar Piastri demonstrated remarkable speed during SQ3, clocking an astonishing 1’08”899, shattering the 1’09” barrier and outpacing his teammate Lando Norris by a mere 29 thousandths of a second. This marks the second instance this season where the Australian driver has topped Sprint Qualifying, a feat he previously achieved last year at the Lusail circuit in Qatar, where he triumphed in the subsequent short race.
In the second row, Charles Leclerc secured a strong position for Ferrari with a time of 1’09”153, closely followed by Max Verstappen in the Red Bull, who clocked in at 1’09”219. A total of eight teams, which include the already mentioned McLaren duo, Ferrari, and Red Bull, also saw their other representatives from Mercedes with George Russell, Alpine with Pierre Gasly, Racing Bulls with Liam Lawson, Williams with Alexander Albon, and Haas with Oliver Bearman reach Q3. Notably absent from the battle were the Sauber team, despite Valtteri Bottas reaching SQ2, and Aston Martin, where both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were eliminated in SQ1.
THE DAY ON TRACK
This weekend’s only free practice session saw teams primarily utilizing the Soft and Medium compound tyres, with both Aston Martin drivers undergoing the usual scrubbing-in process of Hard tyres. Teams concentrated on fine-tuning their set-ups and conducted various long runs with differing fuel loads in preparation for the challenging race ahead.
As the day progressed, significant changes in temperature were observed, notably affecting on-track conditions. Air temperatures soared to 31 °C during free practice, only to cool down to 21°C by the conclusion of Sprint Qualifying. Meanwhile, the track temperature saw a dramatic decline from a high of 57°C at 12:15 to just 36°C by 16:30, largely due to the overcast sky that limited sunlight exposure to the newly resurfaced track.
Oscar Piastri, the pole-sitter for the Sprint race, was honored with the Pirelli Sprint Qualifying Award by two enthusiastic fans and dynamic content creators, chosen by the event promoter. Luca Morelli and Murilo Bellini, both passionate about Formula 1, have garnered a combined following of over 400,000 on Instagram, sharing their love for motorsport with a fun and engaging approach.
BR24-SprintQualiAwardWinner
Sprint pole man Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, receives his Pirelli Sprint Qualifying award during the Brazilian GP at Autódromo José Carlos Pace
SIMONE BERRA – CHIEF ENGINEER
“When venturing onto a resurfaced track, teams are often faced with several unknowns, despite advancements in simulation technology. Even well-established circuits like Interlagos present their own set of challenges as the track has been entirely resurfaced. Based on our recent measurements and today’s track activity, a few key observations have surfaced. The new surface is exceptionally smooth, and its level of abrasiveness is notably lower than our findings from last year. However, the presence of numerous bumps complicates matters for teams and drivers. Initially, the grip level matched historical data, but it increased significantly as cars completed additional laps, which was entirely expected. Additionally, track temperatures showed considerable fluctuations, primarily influenced by the evolving cloud cover. A pertinent variable that remains unknown is how grip levels are affected when wet; forecasts indicate a substantial chance of rain for tomorrow afternoon and potentially more on Sunday, which will be crucial to monitor.”
“Regarding tire performance and team strategies, we observed that all teams conserved two sets of Hard tyres for the remainder of the weekend. The Medium is anticipated to be the tire of choice for the Sprint, setting the stage for a potential two-stop strategy on Sunday, similar to last year’s approach. It’s essential to note that the compounds this year are one step softer compared to last year, meaning that today’s Hard corresponds to last year’s Medium, while the 2024 Medium parallels the previous year’s Soft. It seems unlikely that this year’s Soft, the C5, will see any action in the race, even though it shows promising performance. Additionally, we must analyze why the Soft failed to provide the expected performance boost during SQ, despite Lando Norris achieving the fastest time of the day — 1”723 seconds quicker than last year’s best.”
PIRELLI IN MOTORSPORT
Founded in 1872, Pirelli boasts deep-rooted Italian origins and is globally recognized for its advanced technology, innovation, and exceptional product quality. Motorsport plays a pivotal role in Pirelli’s strategy, embodying their ‘race to road’ philosophy. The company has a rich history in motorsport spanning 116 years and currently supplies tires to over 350 championships on both two- and four-wheel vehicles. Pirelli remains committed to promoting the efficient use of natural resources and energy as part of its mission to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Since 2011, Pirelli has proudly served as the Global Tyre Partner for the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, while also providing tires for various other competitions including FIA Formula 2, FIA Formula 3, Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, FIA World Rally Championship, and GT World Challenge, as well as numerous national series.
**Interview with Oscar Piastri - Sprint Qualifying Pole Sitter at the São Paulo GP**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Oscar! Congratulations on securing the pole position for the Sprint race in São Paulo. You’ve set an amazing lap time. How does it feel to be at the top of the grid again?
**Oscar Piastri:** Thank you! It feels incredible. To clock a time below 1’09” is a big achievement, especially in such competitive conditions. We’ve worked hard as a team, and it’s great to see our efforts paying off.
**Interviewer:** You were just 29 thousandths of a second ahead of your teammate Lando Norris. What’s the dynamic like racing so closely with someone you work with day in and day out?
**Oscar Piastri:** It’s exciting. Lando and I have a great relationship on and off the track, which definitely helps during qualifying. We push each other to improve, and it’s always a bit of a thrill when it comes down to such small margins.
**Interviewer:** The conditions were quite variable today with a significant drop in track temperature. How did this affect your strategy during Sprint Qualifying?
**Oscar Piastri:** The cooler temperatures definitely changed things up from practice. We had to adapt quickly to the changing grip levels. The new track surface is smooth, but we’ve noticed a few bumps that can catch you off guard. It was a matter of finding the right balance and making adjustments on the fly.
**Interviewer:** Looking ahead to the Sprint race tomorrow, what do you expect from the competition, particularly from drivers like Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen who qualified behind you?
**Oscar Piastri:** I expect it to be a tight race, as it always is. Both Charles and Max are incredibly talented, and I know they’ll be pushing hard. It’s also important for us to focus on our race pace and strategy to make the most of this front-row start.
**Interviewer:** Last year, you achieved a victory after starting from pole in Qatar. Does that experience give you added confidence for tomorrow’s race?
**Oscar Piastri:** Absolutely. Winning from pole is a fantastic feeling, and it does give you confidence knowing that you’ve done it before. However, every race is different, so I’ll need to stay focused and execute our race plan.
**Interviewer:** One last question, Oscar. You’ve received the Pirelli Sprint Qualifying Award from fans who are passionate about the sport. How important is fan engagement to you as a driver?
**Oscar Piastri:** It’s incredibly important. Fans make this sport what it is. Engaging with them and seeing their enthusiasm fuels my motivation. It’s nice to connect with them and hopefully inspire the next generation of drivers.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Oscar, and best of luck in the Sprint race!
**Oscar Piastri:** Thank you! I’m looking forward to it!
