2022 Brazilian Grand Prix

The **2022 São Paulo Grand Prix** was a Formula 1,5 motor race that was held on 13 November 2022 at the Interlagos Circuit in São Paulo, Brazil.

## Background

The event was held across the weekend of the 11–13 November. It was twenty-first and the penultimate round of the 2022 Formula 1.5 World Championship. It was the third and final Grand Prix weekend of the 2022 season to utilise the Formula 1.5 sprint format.

### Safety Concerns

In the aftermath of the 2022 Brazilian general election on 30 October, a safety concern had been raised over the unrest in the country. Some Brazilians took to the streets of Brazil to protest the election results which prompted disruption of activities in the country. There were reports that team logistic trucks belonging to teams were blocked by protesters while on their way to Autódromo José Carlos Pace from Viracopos International Airport. The political instability in Brazil had raised questions about whether the FIA would decide to cancel the round, or if the race would go ahead as scheduled. Reports indicated that the FIA and Formula One rights holder Liberty Media were monitoring the situation to decide on the fate of the race. On 2 November it was clear the Grand Prix weekend would go ahead.

### Championship Standings before the race

Lando Norris led the Drivers' Championship with 45 points from Esteban Ocon, second, and 94 from Fernando Alonso, third. Alpine led the Constructors' Championship from McLaren by 50 points and Aston Martin by 246. points. Norris could win the drivers championship on the Saturday in the Sprint.

#### Sprint Drivers standings permutations

 7th
 8th or lower

Norris went on to win the sprint with Ocon not managing to take a top 7 finish in the sprint, therefore Lando Norris was crowned 2022 F1.5 Champion.

#### Constructor standings permutations

The result meant that in the main race on sunday, Alpine could beat McLaren in the constructors standings with the simple face

* If Alpine outscore McLaren by 7 points or more they are F1.5 World Champions for 2022

### Entrants

The drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with no additional stand-in drivers for the race. Logan Sargeant drove for Williams in place of Alexander Albon, during the second practice session.

### Tyres

Tyre supplier Pirelli brought the C2, C3, and C4 tyre compounds (designated hard, medium, and soft, respectively) for teams to use at the event.

## Qualifying

Qualifying began in wet conditions, with all fourteen drivers starting on the intermediate tyres. With eight minutes remaining in Q1 Pierre Gasly became the first driver to use dry tyres in the session. These proved to be faster, and all cars would finish the session on the soft tyre, with those who made the switch earlier attaining better lap times.

Q2 would remain predominantly dry. However, showers began at the end of the session and continued into Q3. F1.0 Driver George Russell span in the gravel trap resulting in a red flag and the postponement of the session. When it resumed ten minutes later, the rain had got much heavier and dry tyres had become unusable. As a result, no driver could set a lap time, meaning Kevin Magnussen took pole.

## Sprint

Magnussen got the best start of the front runners and held the lead for the first 19 laps before being passed by Lando Norris.

The Alpine drivers of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso also engaged in a duel throughout the first lap, although it ended disastrously for them. At turn 4, Ocon forced Alonso wide in a defensive move, leading to contact and Ocon damaging his right sidepod. As the two continued to run close together, Alonso attempted a move around the outside of turn 14. He moved too late however and broke his front wing. Alonso would pit two laps later, relegating him to the back of the field, and would receive a five-second penalty for his attempted overtake. Ocon's damage would severely hamper his race and he finished in 11th position, with his car catching fire in the post-race parc ferme.

Lance Stroll was also penalised for a move on his teammate, making a late defensive adjustment that forced Sebastian Vettel onto the grass. The move drew comparisons to the effort made by Stroll three weeks earlier in the United States Grand Prix, which resulted in a crash that momentarily sent Alonso airborne. Stroll was awarded a ten-second penalty.

## Race

At turn 7, Daniel Ricciardo hit the back of Magnussen, spinning the Haas which then rolled backwards and made a second contact with Ricciardo's McLaren, ending both of their races and triggering a safety car. For his role in the incident, Ricciardo will serve a three-place grid penalty at the next race in Abu Dhabi.

On the restart Norris hit F1.0 driver Leclerc into a wall and gained a 5 second time penalty for the incident.

Norris retired on lap 53 after a gearbox failure, creating a virtual safety car and then a full safety car, giving Alonso, the only driver on a three stop strategy a chance to get a cheaper pit stop for fresh tyres. When the race resumed, Alonso worked his way from 5th to 1st.

At the conclusion of the race, Alfa Romeo was investigated for a pit lane incident involving Mick Schumacher. The stewards determined that a team member was unreasonably close to the path of the approaching Haas car which was starting its pit stop and fined the team €1,000.

## Championship Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings

;Constructors' Championship standings

## External Links

1. ↑ Kevin Magnussen was credited with pole position after qualifying. Lando Norris started the race in the first position after winning the sprint.
2. ↑  Yuki Tsunoda was due to start 9th, but he was required to start the race from the pit lane due to modifications to the floor, front wing and rear wing.
3. ↑  Lance Stroll finished 6th, but he received a ten-second time penalty for a dangerous manoeuvre on Sebastian Vettel.
4. ↑ Includes 1 point for fastest lap
5. ↑  Pierre Gasly finished 6th, but he received a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane.