Brazilian fans unexpectedly have two home drivers on the grid this weekend. Here are the talking points for Formula 1’s trip to South America.
Brazil’s new generation
For the first time in 10 years, two Brazilian drivers will line up on the grid at Interlagos this weekend.Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Camara will make his grand prix debut earlier than expected. Haas will put the Ferrari junior driver into the seat formerly occupied by Esteban Ocon, which he was not due to take over until next year.
He will join Gabriel Bortoleto, who impressed in his debut season last year and is on course to end the season ahead of experienced team mate Nico Hulkenberg in the standings.
It’s an exciting time for Brazilian motor racing talent. But spare a thought for the sadly overlooked Felipe Drugovich, who spent years testing for Aston Martin after winning the F2 title, came close to making his F1 debut at the beginning of 2023, but now appears unlikely to get another chance.
All over for Ocon?
His sensational and as-yet unexplained ousting by Haas in the middle of the last race weekend looks like being the end of his time in F1. It was not a career he came by easily, and one he almost lost at the end of 2018, when Lawrence Stroll bought Racing Point and dropped Ocon to create a vacancy for his son to fill.
With few opportunities elsewhere on the grid remaining, it’s hard to see how the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix winner can come back from this.
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Ferrari fall-out
There were testy moments between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc before last weekend. But the Mexican Grand Prix was by far the clearest example of them costing each other a win.
The other championship
How well Ferrari perform this weekend will have a strong bearing on whether Mercedes clinch the constructors’ championship or have to wait until Las Vegas.
Mercedes arrive in Brazil 126 points ahead of Ferrari, the only team that can still beat them to the title. If their lead is at least 129 points when the chequered flag falls on Sunday, Mercedes will regain the crown they last won in 2021.
McLaren respond to Red Bull
Mexico was the sixth consecutive weekend in which Red Bull out-scored McLaren. The two teams are separated by 17 points in their scrap for third place, but McLaren intend to respond this weekend.
McLaren will introduce changes to their front and rear wings this weekend, plus a modification to their floor. Will that improve the performance of the car – or at least make it easier for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to extract the best from it?
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The final act?
While Formula 1 races in Brazil, at least some of Moto GP’s teams are due to race in Qatar. Only some, because Yamaha has already confirmed it won’t send its teams due to concerns over the threat to the event from the war in Iran.
America resumed strikes on Iran on Wednesday and it remains to be seen what steps it will take following yesterday’s midterm election results. Many in F1 will be anxiously monitoring the situation and whether Moto GP presses ahead with its plan to race in Losail.
Are you going to the Brazilian Grand Prix?
If you’re heading to Brazil for this weekend’s race, we want to hear from you:
Who do you think will be the team to beat in the Brazilian Grand Prix? Have your say below.