2021_São_Paulo_Grand_Prix

2021 São Paulo Grand Prix

2021 São Paulo Grand Prix

19th round of the 2021 Formula One season

The 2021 São Paulo Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Heineken Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2021) was a Formula One motor race, held on 14 November 2021 at the Interlagos Circuit in São Paulo, Brazil. The race was the 19th round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship. The event marked the 49th edition of the Grand Prix and the first time the event was known as the São Paulo Grand Prix, with previous editions being known as the Brazilian Grand Prix.

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After getting disqualified from Friday qualifying due to an inconformity with his drag reduction system (DRS), Lewis Hamilton would recover to fifth in the sprint, and after taking a further grid penalty for the race itself for exceeding the quota of internal combustion engines allocated to him, would win after duelling with, and passing, a leading Max Verstappen. Sprint polesitter Valtteri Bottas finished in third, which alongside Hamilton's victory further extended Mercedes' advantage over Red Bull Racing in the fight for the Constructors' Championship; Verstappen would remain ahead of Hamilton in the Drivers' Championship standings.

Background

Further information: 2021 Formula One World Championship § Calendar changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Satellite view of the circuit in 2018

The race marked its debut in the Formula One Championship calendar under the name São Paulo Grand Prix, with previous editions being known as the Brazilian Grand Prix. In November 2020, a deal was signed which would see Formula One continue to race at Interlagos until 2025, albeit under the title of São Paulo Grand Prix.[4][5] The governing body, the FIA lifted the curfew on that limits overnight working after weather conditions meant the equipment arrived late to the venue.[6] This is the 38th time that Interlagos has been visited by the championship.[7] The race was originally to take place on this date, but it was firstly rescheduled to 7 November due to the postponement of the Australian Grand Prix;[lower-alpha 1] then it was rescheduled again to its original date due to the reduction of the overall number of Grands Prix in the calendar, from 23 to 22.[8][9]

Championship standings

Heading into the race Max Verstappen led the World Drivers' Standings with 312.5 points, 19 points ahead of second-placed Lewis Hamilton. Valtteri Bottas was in third on 185 points, too far behind Verstappen to be able to win the title, but 20 points ahead of Sergio Pérez in fourth with Lando Norris fifth on 150 points. In the World Constructors' Standings, Mercedes led with 478.5 points, one point ahead of second-placed Red Bull Racing. Ferrari were third with 268.5 points ahead of McLaren on 255. Alpine and AlphaTauri were fifth and sixth with 106 points each, with Alpine being ahead courtesy of a win, compared to no wins for AlphaTauri.[10]

Entrants

See also: 2021 Formula One World Championship § Entries

The drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with no additional stand-in drivers for the race or practice.[11] Kimi Räikkönen achieved his 350th Grand Prix entry in this race and became the first F1 driver to reach that milestone.

Tyre choices

Sole tyre supplier Pirelli allocated the C2, C3, and C4 compounds of tyre to be used during this Grand Prix weekend.[12]

Practice

The weekend saw two practice sessions, each lasting one hour. The first took place on 12 November at 12:30 local time (UTC-3) and the second took place at 12:00 on 13 November.[13]

Qualifying

Qualifying took place at 16:00 on 12 November,[13] with the results determining the starting order for sprint qualifying.[14]

Post-qualifying

After the qualifying session, Hamilton was referred to the stewards for an alleged technical infringement. The technical delegate's report stated that Hamilton's drag reduction system's opening slot was larger than the permitted 85 mm (3.3 in). The rear wing assembly of Hamilton's car was removed and impounded pending investigations. He was later disqualified from qualifying, forcing him to start at the back of the grid for the sprint qualifying.[15]

Verstappen was referred to the stewards for an alleged violation of article 2.5.1 of the FIA International Sporting Code, after he appeared to have touched Hamilton's car during parc fermé. Verstappen received a €50,000 fine.[16]

Qualifying classification

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Notes

  • ^1 – Lewis Hamilton qualified first, but was disqualified because his DRS was found not to be in conformity with the rules. He was allowed to race in the sprint qualifying at the stewards' discretion.[20]

Sprint qualifying

Sprint qualifying took place on 13 November at 16:30 and was contested over 24 laps,[13] with the results determining the starting order for the race.[14]

Sprint qualifying classification

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Notes

  • ^2 – Lewis Hamilton received a five-place grid penalty for exceeding his quota of internal combustion engines (ICE).[23]
  • ^3 – Kimi Räikkönen qualified 18th, but was required to start the race from the pit lane due to a rear wing assembly change under parc fermé conditions.[24]

Race

The race was won by Hamilton, with Verstappen and Bottas completing the podium, and Pérez setting the fastest lap.[13]

Race classification

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Notes

  • ^1 – Includes one point for fastest lap.

Championship standings after the race

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  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
  • Bold text and an asterisk indicates competitors who still had a theoretical chance of becoming World Champion.

Notes

  1. The Australian Grand Prix would later be cancelled.
  2. Nikita Mazepin is Russian, but he competed as a neutral competitor using the designation RAF (Russian Automobile Federation), as the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a ban on Russia competing at World Championships. The ban was implemented by the World Anti-Doping Agency in response to the state-sponsored doping program of Russian athletes.[17]

References

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    Smith, Luke (28 August 2021). "Formula 1 reveals updated 2021 calendar, drops to 22 races". Autosport. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
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    "Brazil 2021". Formula1. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
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    "Formula 1 announces TV, race attendance and digital audience figures for 2021". Formula1.com. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
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    Noble, Jonathan. "Sao Paulo agrees deal with F1 to host Brazilian GP until 2025". Autosport.com. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
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    "Sao Paulo's Interlagos Circuit to host Brazilian Grand Prix until 2025". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  6. [6]
    Benson, Andrew (11 November 2021). "Sao Paulo Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton says 'every race a must-win' in battle with Max Verstappen". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  7. [7]
    Baldwin, Alan; Ed, Osmond (10 November 2021). "Formula One statistics for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix". Reuters. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
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    "F1 Schedule 2021 – Bahrain to host season opener as Australia moves later in calendar and Imola returns". F1. 12 January 2021. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
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    "Formula 1 announces revised 22-race calendar for 2021". Formula1. 28 August 2021. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
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    "Championship points" (PDF). FIA. 7 November 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
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    "2021 Brazilian Grand Prix – Entry List" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  12. [12]
    "Formula 1 2021 Season - Pirelli Unveils Tire Choices For All 23 GPs". F1Lead. 20 February 2021. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  13. [13]
    "Brazil timetable". Formula 1. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  14. [14]
    Thukral, Rachit (12 November 2021). "Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying – Start time, how to watch, channel". www.motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  15. [15]
    "2021 Brazilian Grand Prix - Car 44 - Offence - DRS" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 13 November 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 November 2021.
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    "Hamilton at risk of penalty over DRS technical infringement in Brazil – as Verstappen is also summoned to stewards". Formula1. 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  17. [17]
    Luke Smith (5 February 2021). "Mazepin set to race under neutral flag after CAS ruling extends to F1". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  18. [18]
    "Formula 1 Heineken Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2021 – Qualifying". Formula1.com. 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  19. [19]
    "Formula 1 Heineken Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2021 – Sprint Grid". Formula1.com. 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  20. [20]
    "Hamilton disqualified from Brazil qualifying after DRS infringement". www.formula1.com. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  21. [21]
    "Formula 1 Heineken Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2021 – Sprint". F1. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  22. [22]
    "Formula 1 Heineken Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2021 – Starting Grid". F1. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  23. [23]
    "Hamilton set for five place grid penalty after taking new Mercedes engine in Brazil". www.formula1.com. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  24. [24]
    "Offence - Car 7 - Rear Wing Assembly" (PDF). FIA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  25. [25]
    "Formula 1 Heineken Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2021 – Race Result". Formula1.com. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  26. [26]
    "Formula 1 Heineken Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2021 – Fastest Laps". Formula1.com. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  27. [27]
    "Sâo Paulo 2021 - Championship". www.statsf1.com.
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Previous race:
2019 Brazilian Grand Prix		 São Paulo Grand Prix Next race:
2022 São Paulo Grand Prix
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