The Brazilian Grand Prix will be held at the Interlagos circuit near São Paolo on Sunday, 14 November. The race will begin at 2 pm local time.
Formula One returns to Brazil after a two-year absence, with last year’s race cancelled due to the global pandemic, and the future of the race assured for now after a dispute between the promoters and the FIA was resolved.
The big question is whether anyone can stop Max Verstappen in his charge to the drivers’ title this year.
The young Dutchman comes into this race with a 19-point advantage over rival Lewis Hamilton, having won the last two races, the second of those wins, in Mexico last weekend, particularly dominant.
Verstappen took the lead at the first corner, and there was nothing Hamilton could do about it. Although Hamilton claimed second place, he spent the last part of the race fending off pressure from Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez. After the race, Hamilton lamented that the Red Bulls were just too fast for his Mercedes, and any performance gap can hardly be closed in a few days.
The momentum seems to have tipped decisively in the Red Bull driver’s favour. He has won nine races this season. Only one driver in the history of the sport has won more in a calendar year and not gone on to win the title – Hamilton himself in 2016.
And the reigning world champion has only won once in his last eight outings.
To worsen matters, the Interlagos circuit suits the configuration of the Red Bull car better than it does the Mercedes. So, on paper at least, the odds are stacked heavily against Hamilton.
A win in Brazil for Verstappen, even if Hamilton finished behind him again, would take Verstappen 26 points clear, or more than one win ahead of his challenger.
That means that Verstappen can afford to finish second in the last three races to come, in the Middle east, and still win the title.
Prediction
The odds clearly favour Verstappen delivering a potentially knock-out blow in the Championship fight.
Hamilton’s best hope is to limit the damage and hope that some time between now and the end of the season that the Red Bull suffers some sort of mechanical failure.