It’s time for Formula 1 to make the long trip to South America for the penultimate round of the 2019 season: the Brazilian Grand Prix. Motorsport Week takes a look at the key talking points ahead of the event.
Who can carry the momentum through 2020?
It has been coming for some time but both Formula 1 titles are now mathematically done and dusted: Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have their respective sixth crowns and can book their suits and ties for the FIA Gala in December. But there are still two events to come, and their outcome is important. Anything learned this season can be carried through to 2020 while the importance of momentum and strong morale cannot be underestimated. In 2015 Hamilton accepted he took his eye off the ball and it gave Nico Rosberg a boost after a lacklustre season, after which he went on to take the 2016 crown. Last season Hamilton remained fully committed and rounded out the season with back-to-back wins. There are still records to chase – Hamilton can break his own points record – while Mercedes will be eager not to relent and thus give their opponents a slither of hope heading into next season.
How fast with Ferrari be?
Drawing definitive conclusions from a small sample set is not a wise idea. It is why pre-season testing can often be misleading. It is the same at a race weekend. Ferrari was nowhere near as potent along the straights in Austin as it had been at previous grands prix. It led to aspersions from some opponents that a recently-issued technical directive had nullified its prospects and, in effect, prevented it from cheating. Given the evidence they went looking for the holes. If you convince yourself something is true then it is far easier to see what you wish to see. Ferrari resolutely defended itself and if you argue the case for the defence then their evidence, at this stage, is far more compelling. Ferrari suffered a perfect storm in Austin. Leclerc’s problem at that event also means he will start from towards the rear of the grid, taking on a new power unit, meaning that gathering further evidence either pro or against Ferrari will be even tougher…
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Can Brazil deliver another dead rubber?
Sometimes in Formula 1 you have to feel a little sorry for event organisers. Interlagos is steeped in history, iconic moments, and is atmospheric courtesy of the passion of the crowd, who flock from all over South America to cheer on their favourites. But for the fourth time in five years Formula 1 rocks up at Interlagos with nothing left to play for at the front of the grid. That aside, Interlagos can still provide enthralling grands prix. Last season Max Verstappen surged to the front with a sequence of bold overtaking manoeuvres, but undid all his hard work via an unseemly clash with the lapped Esteban Ocon, paving the way for Hamilton to triumph. Just because it’s a dead rubber doesn’t mean it isn’t worth watching – and for all of the midfield teams and beyond it is simply business as usual anyway.
What next for the future of F1 and Brazil?
Formula 1’s relationship with Brazil is at the weakest it has been for decades. It still has an enormous and lucrative television audience. But the future of its grand prix is up in the air while representation remains questionable. Interlagos’ current contract expires at the end of 2020 and the promoter’s previously close relationship with Bernie Ecclestone has not sat well with Liberty Media, who have publicly and vocally pointed out the expensive nature of the event for teams and organisers. Plans are afoot to move the event to Rio de Janeiro from 2021 at the yet-to-be-constructed Rio Motorsports Park – in the Deodoro district – which has already penned a five-year MotoGP deal from 2022. Brazil has now been without an F1 driver since Felipe Massa’s exit at the end of 2017 and there’s few standout options in the junior ranks to suggest the dearth will conclude any time soon. Neither McLaren tester Sergio Sette Camara nor Haas reserve Pietro Fittipaldi – who have tested F1 machinery this year – are likely to make the grid, while of Renault’s youngsters Caio Collet is the standout, but it is too early to determine his trajectory.
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How will F1 tackle its 2030 target?
This is not necessarily a Brazil-specific point but Tuesday’s announcement of its 2030 carbon footprint target was well-received, and shows Formula 1’s desire to be at the pinnacle of changes and developments. But it also highlighted a problem. Formula 1 grands prix are responsible for just eight per cent of its carbon footprint, while the on-track action carries just 0.7 per cent of the overall figure, thanks to the astonishing hybrid power units. But how does Formula 1 tackle the other 92 per cent? A huge portion of its carbon footprint surrounds the travel and logistics involved in transporting the sport around the globe. It is not an F1-unique problem. Lots of sports are global enterprises meaning long-distance travel is a necessity. But can F1 marry its sustainability drive with its commercial desire to expand the calendar to upwards of 25 events? That is a big issue that has not yet been addressed.
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