The Brazilian city of São Paulo’s Interlagos circuit is well-known for providing thrilling races, with a lap is only 4.309 kilometres long, making it one of the shortest of the year. Only Monaco and last week’s Mexico City are shorter.
Interlagos also is run anti-clockwise and situated on a hillside, which gives it a unique character. Drivers face a steep downhill section after the first corner, followed by a long climb uphill with several winding turns, and then a long straight leading back to the finish line.
The Interlagos track has 15 corners – five right-handers and nine left-handers – with several direction changes.
Interlagos has a bit of everything, featuring low as well as medium speed corners, and the cars running quite a high level of downforce.
Aussie Superstar Back on Track
Daniel Ricciardo was nothing short of sensational last up in Mexico as he qualified P4 in a classy drive, on his second race back from injury. The popular Perthite turned that into a P7 finish, falling narrowly short of P6 as he gave Mercedes’ George Russell some curry in the final laps.
And Red Bull’s Christian Horner was quick to heap praise on Daniel for his gutsy performance.
“You couldn’t fail to be impressed by Daniel this weekend,” said the Team Principal, after the Aussie superstar’s surprise comeback. “I mean, his qualifying was outstanding, and he showed his maturity and experience and pace in the race.
“I think that fighting a Mercedes in an AlphaTauri for their best result of the year, it was a great performance. And had it not been for the red flag [after Kevin Magnussen crashed out], he might actually have finished even further up.
“So, he can take a lot of confidence, coming back from injury. He’s had a rough time over the last couple of months having to sit on the sidelines, but that’s the Daniel that we’re used to seeing.
“As we’ve seen in sport, confidence is such a thing, and his confidence is coming up. Checo we just need him to have a confidence-boosting result and he could have had it today, but it wasn’t to be.
Sergio’s Rough Trot at Home
If ever there was a weekend where Sergio Perez could have done without Daniel delivering such a stunning performance, it was in Mexico City.
Luck deserted the likeable Mexican as an unfortunate brain fade in Lap 1 in front of his adoring fans, destroyed his race. And once again point the fickle finger of fate in his direction. Attention the 36-year-old could well do without.
The mishap saw Checo’s buffer in second in the Drivers’ Championship over Lewis Hamilton slashed to 20 points, and Red Bull’s hopes of a first ever one-two diminish as the Brit scoring a brilliant P2 finish – and the fastest lap around the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit.
Blast from the Past!
If you cast your mind back to 2022, São Paulo was Daniel’s last race for McLaren. And he crashed out on the first lap after starting 11th and coming together with Kevin Magnussen’s Haas, with both retiring!
São Paulo, Brazil
There’s been a severe storm brewing over much of the area for this week which could have a serious implications on the Brazilian F1 Grand Prix should it develop. But the latest forecast suggests the weathers gods will be kind over Interlagos.
Two-Stopper most likely at Interlagos
The three compounds Pirelli has chosen for the Brazilian Grand Prix are the C2 P Zero White hard, C3 Yellow medium, and C4 Red soft.
“The forces acting on the tyres are reasonably balanced between lateral and longitudinal.
“The asphalt itself has a high level of roughness: typical of permanent tracks with a long history behind them.
“Degradation is mainly thermal, so the C2, C3, and C4 compounds have been chosen.
“A two-stopper is the most likely strategy, while a one-stopper would require plenty of tyre management, affecting race pace.
“The safety car has often featured during the grand prix, introducing another key variable, and we have also seen that weather conditions can vary rapidly and widely at this time of year as well.
“Interlagos will additionally host the final sprint round of the season, giving the teams and drivers another chance to assess tyre behaviour over long runs.
“Since sprint races came in for the 2021 season, Interlagos has always been one of them – a sure sign of how this track consistently delivers the sort of close racing that suits the sprint format.”
MARIO ISOLA, Pirelli Head of Motorsport
MARIO ISOLA – Pirelli Head of Motorsport
Mercedes has won the most races at Interlagos since the Brazilian Grand Prix adopted the name of its host city, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell winning in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
• Interlagos has hosted 39 world championship grands prix in total, with Ferrari winning 10 times and Michael Schumacher the most successful driver on four wins.
• The Brazilian Grand Prix has also been held at the Jacarepaguà circuit in Rio de Janeiro 10 times.
Kevin Magnussen gave Haas its maiden pole position last year, making the most of his soft compound tyres in the rain at the start of Q3. It was also the Dane’s first (and so far, only) pole, ahead of his eighth place in the sprint race the following day.
• The three compounds Pirelli has chosen for the Brazilian Grand Prix are the C2 P Zero White hard, C3 Yellow medium, and C4 Red soft.
“The forces acting on the tyres are reasonably balanced between lateral and longitudinal. “The asphalt itself has a high level of roughness: typical of permanent tracks with a long history behind them. “Degradation is mainly thermal, so the C2, C3, and C4 compounds have been chosen. “A two-stopper is the most likely strategy, while a one-stopper would require plenty of tyre management, affecting race pace. “The safety car has often featured during the grand prix, introducing another key variable, and we have also seen that weather conditions can vary rapidly and widely at this time of year as well. “Interlagos will additionally host the final sprint round of the season, giving the teams and drivers another chance to assess tyre behaviour over long runs. “Since sprint races came in for the 2021 season, Interlagos has always been one of them – a sure sign of how this track consistently delivers the sort of close racing that suits the sprint format.”
I will never forget watching Tony Ricciardello blast through the field in his imaculate red Chevy/Alfa in a reverse grid race at Barbagallo Raceway, way back when I was a much younger man.
The much younger Tony invariably would hit the front in his screaming beast, taking the lead into Turn One. It was the kind of feat out of which legends emerge.
And Tony Ricciardello, and his Dad Basil, are at the forefront of that rare bubble with Tony recently taking out an extraordinary12th National Sports Sedans Title, his latest achievment on the daunting Surfer’s Paradise street circuit.
It was a feat that cements the WA-based Chevy/Alfa as by far the most successful racing car seen at a National level in Australia. Tony and Basil and their extemplary team first won the title in 1998-99.
Ryan Humfrey’s EX Falcon. Courtesy Australian Motorsport Images
Inn its release praising the team and their achievments, the WASCC said “anyone who has contested a National Series out of WA will attest, just the logistics alone are a huge challenge. To win yet another title when all the racers are on the East Coast speaks volumes to the commitment of the whole Ricciardello Team.”
Another club member who performed outstandingly well at the Surfers Paradise street circuit was Ryan Humfrey, who powered his EX Falcon to a commendable 2nd place finish, clinching 4th position in the Precision National Sports Sedan Championship in their inaugural season.
Prof Heads Back to the Future
Professor Michael Henderson
My old mate Professor Michael Henderson has been around racetracks for much of his life, and as longtime member of the WA Sporting Car Club, where I spent an eventful near-10 years as GM.
In those days the 2.4km Wanneroo track was known as Barbagallo Raceway, Wanneroo. It’s now CARCO.com.au Raceway, and remains WA’s premier motor racing venue.
Recently Prof Hendo stepped back into a Formula Ford for the first time in yonks,racing alongside his 18-year-old son Xavier
“First drive of a Formula Ford in 38 years. Very SNUG I might say and 45kg overweight 😂.
“So I can’t believe I finished 9th outright and within a second of the fastest time of the day!
“This was my first drive of a Formula Ford in all those years. And my first drive in a race car since I last drove one of my 1986 Ralt RT4s, winning a back-to-back championship in 2019.
“Major spinal surgery in 2020 (a side effect of crashing my RG 500cc Suzuki Grand Prix bike at Bathurst in 1982) which sidelined me from Motorsport.”
And he’s a handy hockey player as well
The injury saw him focus on playing hockey internationally in World Masters hockey and Australian masters hockey championships, Hondo’s other true passion.
A highlight was Silver in this year’s Aust 55’s hockey championships.
Formula Ford Maestro Bret Lupton, a former F1 mechanic.
Hendo’s daughter Alexandria is studying at the prestigious West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, enjoying drama/singing, and driving her Royale RP31M Historic Formula Ford.
I enjoyed a wonderful experience of lecturing at WAAPA for a couple of years in the early days of the Campus. And I’m proud to say my eldest son Robbiesam also is a graduate.
Jody, Emma, Victoria & Alexandria
“The group photos were taken at Xavier’s recent 18th birthday where 10 of his mates had the opportunity to drive Formula Fords from Bret Lupton’s Fastlane Driving School.
“All four of my kids – Victoria 21, Alexandria 19, Xavier, and Christopher 16 – drove their own Formula Fords on the same day, including Xavier’s girlfriend Emma who drove a Fastlane school car.
Xavier Henderson’s 18th Birthday Bash
“Following the event, one of the boys attending the birthday has bought Tom Chapman’s Stealth and two others are looking at leasing cars from Lupton for 2024.
“So a pretty successful introduction to motorsport for the youngsters.”
Prof Hendo’s wife Jody (pictured above) was there to supervise the day.
Aussie Invader Project Full Steam Ahead
ROSCO MCGLASHAN’S Aussie Invader
If you’re into Kindle books (as I am) here’s an offer from Australia’s fastest man, Mullaloo’s own superman Rosco McGlashan.
Anyone Can download the book “ROSCO The Fastest Aussie on Earth” for free – but get in quick.
With author Mark Read’s blessing, Rosco’s team is giving the Kindle eBook away for today only at amazon.com.au
So get in Quickish!
Rosco says the Kindle app is also free to download and you can read his adventures on an iPad or mobile device, as well as a PC or Mac.
The free offer is for a very limited period, so get to it and do your bit to help Rosco edge ever closer to his dream of becoming the fastest man alive, on land.
Aussie Invader 5R project
“Team member Mark Read has done a brilliant job in recording my life and career, its highs and lows. This book is funny, at times sad, but always entertaining.
“The point of writing the book was two-fold. One, to record my story before recollections of my life became lost or forgotten, by me and others, and two, to attract interest and showcase the current Aussie Invader 5R project.”
In coming weeks I’ll run an update on where Rosco and his dedicated team are with this mammoth project, Australia’s World Land Speed Record Challenger, 15 years in the making!
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