The Brazilian GP will be the third event of the season, with a qualifying sprint race on Saturday to determine Sunday’s grid.
Lewis Hamilton beat rival Max Verstappen in qualifying to take pole position for Saturday’s sprint race ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, although an engine change meant the British driver faced a five-place grid penalty on Sunday.
Hamilton was more than 0.4 seconds ahead of his Red Bull rival in qualifying at Interlagos on 12 November, who also set the fastest time in the morning practice session. That means he will debut on 13 November in the sprint race, which will determine the starting grid for Sunday’s grand prix.
However, the decision by mercedes Changing his car’s engine means the British driver will start no higher than sixth in Sunday’s race, even if he wins the sprint.
“Today was a really good qualifying session, I’m very happy with it,” Hamilton said. “We got a penalty, but whatever we have, we will give it,” he said. It’s not easy to follow, but I think Max is starting on the pole [Sunday] Now that’s why it will be very difficult to catch him, but I will try my best to go on the field.”
The seven-time F1 champion has trailed Verstappen by 19 points in the standings and has four races left in the season.
It is the second time a Mercedes driver has exceeded the limit of three engines for the season, and the penalty will make it even more difficult for Verstappen to close the gap.
Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas finished third in qualifying 0.014 ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who was faster than him in a practice session a few hours earlier.
Red Bulls had proved faster than Mercedes cars in recent races, but Verstappen said Hamilton’s performance on 12 November was “no major setback” after the engine change.
“I’m happy to be in second place. It’s a good position to start,” he said. “You always want to be close, but sometimes you have to be realistic.”
Hamilton took a 10-place grid penalty for a new engine in Turkey, Bottas has faced similar problems, raising questions about the engine’s reliability.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said Hamilton’s engine was replaced due to a malfunction, an issue that “will continue until the end of the season.”
“We don’t yet realize why that is, but we’re only seeing it creep in,” Wolff said.
The Brazilian GP will be the third event of the season, with a qualifying sprint race on Saturday to determine Sunday’s grid. The last two sprint races were held at Silverstone and Monza.
Weather may still play a part in Interlagos, with a thin drizzle falling over some areas of the track on 12 November, but not enough to affect drivers’ performance.
The rain certainly won’t affect the mood in the stands at Interlagos, with drivers cheering loudly during Friday’s sessions. A total of 170,000 fans are expected during the three days of racing after last year’s Grand Prix was canceled due to the pandemic. Health restrictions were lifted at sporting events in Brazil on 1 November.
Brazil has reported more than 610,000 deaths from the coronavirus, but the rate has dropped sharply across the country.
Eugenio Silvano (54) had come from the capital Brasil to Interlagos to enjoy all three days. Wearing a shirt with “Ayrton Senna Forever” in Portuguese and a mask in Brazilian yellow and green, he said the highlight of his year after losing two friends to the virus after coming to the race in So Paulo Is.
“One of them would definitely want to come here too, he was 63 and a big fan of racing,” said Mr. Silvano. “I know the pandemic is not over. This is my first trip in almost two years, but I had to come, for myself and for those who couldn’t.
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