4 rounds to go within the 2025 Components 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, reminiscent of when your information to the circuit – Nico Hulkenberg – secured pole place as a rookie for Williams again in 2010 (pictured above).
“I’ve at all times naturally had a superb connection and feeling with this observe. One of many first issues that stands out, it is anti-clockwise – we haven’t got that many circuits within the season which are anti-clockwise anymore. So there’s a variety of left-hand corners, and it is very robust for the neck on the left facet.
“I believe it is clear what you wish to do with the setup, particularly now we’re in the direction of the tip 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 typical and particularly after Free Follow 1 – being a Dash weekend we solely have one observe and then you definitely do a number of tweaks, a little bit of fine-tuning going into Dash qualifying.
“It was 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 could have at all times that compromise right here between that large uphill lengthy straight right down to Flip 1 – the place you don’t need a variety of drag and downforce – however then the infield the place you sort of want it.
“In order that’s the same old stability round right here, however the observe has a superb move, fairly a number of elevation adjustments which I personally love so much, 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 at all times capable of join with that so much.
“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 you could take, however you have to take them in the proper approach and hit them in the proper angle, in any other case they are often fairly upsetting.
Interlagos has made its curbs a bit much less aggressive however they’ll nonetheless catch you out, as they did Oliver Bearman final 12 months, giving then-teammate Hulkenberg one thing to consider… Sam Bloxham/Getty Pictures
“To be sincere, there’s probably not one key part – it’s in every single place and provided that it is a brief lap time – it is about 1m10s or even under – the sphere is at all times very compact, very densely grouped collectively, so it’s good 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 primary factor.
“And if you drive round and typically when you could have 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, Purple Bull
This 12 months’s tire compound choice for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix harks again to 2023, with the C2, C3 and C4 as Exhausting, Medium and Smooth, subsequently one step more durable than the trio used final 12 months.
Final 12 months, the dry climate tires weren’t required for the race, however when used on Friday and Saturday morning, they confirmed excessive ranges of damage 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 comparable, with the inevitable variations because of the getting older of the asphalt, the choice to convey more durable compounds might thus prolong the efficiency lifetime of the tires, that are already extra proof against degradation than the 2024 vary. That may enable the Smooth to return into play, which final 12 months 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 Follow 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
