John N
There are just two race weekends to go in 2022, and the first one promises extra action as the Sprint makes its final appearance at one of Formula 1’s iconic circuits. So here are a few things to look forward to that we think will be doing the rounds when the paddock reconvenes in Sao Paulo.
1. The final Sprint of 2022
As we approach the final double-header of the season, there will be even more intense competition in Brazil as the third Sprint of the year takes place this weekend.
After exciting events at Imola and Red Bull Ring earlier this year, there’s a lot to play for at Interlagos as qualifying takes place on Friday afternoon (after just one practice session) to set the grid for Saturday’s Sprint, and then the finishing order from that Sprint will determine starting positions in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
And Max Verstappen will be looking to extend some records he set in Mexico City. He already has 14 wins for this season and can break Michael Schumacher’s record of 15 with one more victory. Another record he might break is the most points scored in a season; up to eight points are on offer in the Saturday event.
2. Mercedes close the gap on Ferrari
Verstappen might be searching for another victory in his record-breaking season. Still, he does so safe in the knowledge that he is guaranteed to finish the year as champion, just as Red Bull will in the constructors’ standings. But behind them, there’s still a lot at stake.
Sergio Perez moved just five points ahead of Charles Leclerc in the battle for second in the drivers’ championship in Mexico, a result that came about with Perez finishing third and Leclerc a distant sixth as Ferrari had a tough weekend. And that has also opened the door for Mercedes to put some unexpected pressure on the Scuderia.
Mercedes started a long way off the top two teams this season but has been improving their car as the year has progressed, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell a threat for pole in Mexico. That came after Hamilton had nearly won in Austin, and another second place – paired with Russell’s P4 finish – means they are now just 40 points behind Ferrari with the two races remaining.
It would still take a major turnaround for Mercedes to overhaul Mattia Binotto’s team. Still, if they enjoy a similar pace advantage to Mexico – where Ferrari struggled with power unit performance and the car’s handling – the Sprint provides two opportunities to close the gap.
3. The Midfield Fight Continues
Haas are just holding on to eighth in the constructors’ championship by one point over AlphaTauri. While the gaps ahead of them are slightly bigger, they are between teams who seem capable of scoring more heavily in the second half of the season.
With two rounds to go, Aston Martin are just four points adrift of Alfa Romeo for P6 overall after Valtteri Bottas picked up his first point in 11 races in Mexico. And Ricciardo’s performance – allied with reliability issues for Alpine – saw McLaren close the gap to Alpine to just seven points in the battle for fourth place.
Each position is worth millions of dollars in prize money, and a big swing in points this weekend at Interlagos could prove crucial to the outcome after Abu Dhabi.
4. Gasly Two Penalty Points From A Race Ban
Pierre Gasly has accumulated ten penalty points over the past 12 months, picking up punishments in the past three races. In Japan, he was penalized for speeding under red flag conditions. In Austin, he dropped more than ten car lengths behind the car in front under the Safety Car before getting another penalty point for leaving the track and gaining an advantage when overtaking Lance Stroll in Mexico.
The last three races have seen Gasly incur five penalty points, and two more would trigger an automatic one-race ban. However, as we’re now entering the final two races of Gasly’s time with the team before he moves to Alpine, the threat will be hanging over him until late May when the first points expire – a tense few races for the Frenchman as he tries to end his spell as part of the Red Bull family on a high.
5. The midfield fight hotting up
Haas are just holding on to eighth in the constructors’ championship by one point over AlphaTauri. While the gaps ahead of them are slightly bigger, they are between teams who seem capable of scoring more heavily in the second half of the season.
With two rounds to go, Aston Martin are just four points adrift of Alfa Romeo for P6 overall after Valtteri Bottas picked up his first point in 11 races in Mexico. And Ricciardo’s performance – allied with reliability issues for Alpine – saw McLaren close the gap to Alpine to just seven points in the battle for fourth place.
Each position is worth millions of dollars in prize money, and a big swing in points this weekend at Interlagos could prove crucial to the outcome after Abu Dhabi.
