Brazil’s iconic Interlagos circuit used to deliver incredible moments in Formula One history – and there is now another one to add to the record books after Kevin Magnussen took pole position in rain conditions at the São Paulo Grand Prix. It was a great end to an exciting day, the third and final weekend of the 2022 Formula One race…
1. Haas offers one of the most shocking results ever
Magnussen’s incredible drive will go down to pole position as one of the biggest F1 shocks ever, putting the American-Danish team on track at just the right moment before watching them make the smallest number of laps those remarkably faster cars, like Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes couldn’t match With the onset of rain.
It has been a great reward for a team that has struggled constantly for points this season and for a driver who has returned to F1 with Haas like Late substitute for Nikita Mazepin After a year out.
The Formula 1 circuit united in its congratulations and delight to one of motorsport’s underdogs, with rivals praising Denmark’s Magnussen for getting the job done when it mattered in highly changed circumstances.
Turning the Pole into a victory in Sprint will be tough, but he has every chance of holding onto the top eighth place to secure points on Saturday – and then leave it all up to play on Sunday, when bigger points are available for grabs. Haas is only one difference ahead of AlphaTauri in Creators Championship – So every point is important.
READ MORE: Magnussen vows ‘maximum attack’ after sealing pole and securing P1 for Sao Paulo Sprint
2. Ferrari left disappointed with the weather
Ferrari made the wrong weather call with Charles Leclerc sending him on the brokers – anticipating impending rain – with his teammate Carlos Sainz and everyone getting off the soft tyres.
There was enough time for one dry tire lap when they asked him to box but Leclerc had already started on the next lap – which meant he had to do another round before boxing, by which time the best of conditions were gone.
Read more: ‘I’m very disappointed’ Leclerc says after Q3 tires mixed at Interlagos
It’s disappointing for the Italian team, which felt it had a car capable of challenging first place, even in slippery conditions, with the fastest F1-75 ever through slow corners.
However, with rain forecast for the remainder of the weekend – that should help reduce their pain on the straights (in first practice Ferrari was losing about 0.3 seconds to Red Bull in the final sector, which is basically filling out). With a length of 1.2 km. Throttle).
3. Red Bull remains the winner
They may not be in pole position, but Red Bull will feel confident that they will not only be able to move to the front and win the sprint, but will also go on to win on Sunday afternoon, with Max Verstappen starting in second.
The Dutchman was very strong on Friday 1 hour individual practice, although he wasn’t entirely happy with the balance, and would have taken the starting point if he had hit the “perfect lap” – a combination of his best mini segments. Verstappen expects to do short work with Magnussen at the start – or at least on the opening lap.
His teammate Sergio Perez was less happy, the Mexican was swayed by a sluggish Leclerc who was constrained by his medium tyres. However, Red Bull’s pace around Interlagos is so good that with a Sprint followed by a Grand Prix, the podium will be minimal expectation.
4. Mixed feelings for Mercedes
Mercedes, on the other hand, could be pleased with a top-three start given their performance so far this season – but in the changing circumstances that present opportunities, they will know that a better day was possible.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were both at risk as they were among the drivers towards the back of the queue heading into the track in the first rounds of Q3, meaning they had less of what turned out to be the best conditions.
Russell still had a lap that was good enough for a third – but got frustrated as he flew into the gravel and then came ashore when he did a 360 to try and escape.
Running the lower tier of the Silver Arrows, Hamilton struggled to control the final runs and could only finish eighth. Our data shows their qualifying speed was just 0.06sec off Red Bull, which means they were out in time and raised the tire temperature, a shot at the pole or at least the front row would have been on the cards.
5. Norris fights disease to keep McLaren in the fight
McLaren and Alpine battle for P4 in Creators Championship Throughout the season, with the latter besting the fight with two races to go. However, it is McLaren who starts the race at the highest level.
Lando Norris didn’t think he would be fit enough to drive after suffering suspected food poisoning and Thursday’s media absence – but the Briton put in another impressive performance despite the prospects of snatching fourth, with alpine duo Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso sixth and seventh respectively.
With neither McLaren nor Alpine running the fastest in FP1, rather than focusing on the middle, it remains unclear who is the faster of the two. Our data suggests that McLaren has an advantage over the Alps in slow and medium speed corners, with the Alpine outselling high-speed cornering and pulling about a tenth of a second advantage on the straight.
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