Formula 1 is monitoring a cyclone threatening the Brazilian Grand Prix, which could cause weather-related disruptions, including delays or cancellations of qualifying and sprint sessions, with specific rules in place for points allocation and grid formation if sessions are affected.
The article covers key insights from the Brazilian Grand Prix, including Liam Lawson's reaction to Mexico incident, Verstappen's confident mindset, Antonelli's homage to Senna, Aston Martin's technical restructuring, and Yuki Tsunoda's focus on 2024, along with praise for rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.
Max Verstappen overcame a challenging start at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where he began in 17th place due to a grid penalty and a halted qualifying session, to win the race. Despite initial frustrations, Verstappen navigated through the field, capitalized on strategic decisions during a rain-affected race, and ultimately secured victory by 19 seconds. His performance extended his lead in the World Championship standings, and his animated celebrations were noted by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
The FIA has deemed the track invasion by spectators at the Brazilian GP as an "unacceptable situation" due to serious safety concerns. The governing body has requested race organizers to conduct a thorough investigation and present a remediation plan by January 30, 2024. The World Motor Sport Council may apply further penalties if necessary. The incident mirrored a similar unsafe condition at the 2023 Australian GP. Despite the breach, the Brazilian GP has secured a five-year contract extension, keeping it on the F1 calendar until 2030.
Charles Leclerc believes an engine issue caused him to spin off during the formation lap of the Brazilian GP, resulting in a crash. He also experienced a subsequent hydraulic failure that caused him to lose control of the steering wheel. Leclerc stated that the engine problem caused the rear wheels to lock, leading to the spin. His Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, had a different issue in a previous race, and Leclerc believes his problem was unrelated. The race was red-flagged due to a separate incident involving Kevin Magnussen, Alex Albon, and others.