2024 Formula 1 Preview & Review.

[Fortitude]

How Tsunoda's "P1" gamble was ruined by F1's red flag rules.
Tsunoda lost out under red flag conditions at Interlagos as rivals earned free tyre changes.
Nov 6, 2024
Ewan GaleOleg Karpov
Motorsport.com

"I think what we did, switching to extreme, that was good," explained Tsunoda. "Just the safety car and the red flag came out, that was the point that went very down. If the red flag didn't come out, probably I would, at some point, have overtaken a lot of cars and maybe [been] P1, but it just didn't come towards us."

Lawson also scored points as RB locks into a fight for sixth in the constructors' standings, albeit losing ground to double podium-scoring Alpine. Having stressed the importance of the result for the Faenza-based team, Tsunoda added: "It wasn't easy conditions. If you lose concentration, [it can have] a lot of consequence.

"I enjoyed the last stint, good fight with Oscar [Piastri]. I tried to be within 10 seconds. You know, could have done a lot of things wrong, but kept it clean and tried to score P7, which is good."

‘Tsunoda's "P1" gamble’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/t...ules/10671078/


‘A lot of things didn’t come towards us’ – Tsunoda on dropping from third to P7
3 Nov 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

RB’s Yuki Tsunoda started the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in third place, but ultimately crossed the line on race day in P7.

‘Didn’t come towards us’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/a-...27756973332451


Yuki Tsunoda hails RB turnaround as he bags career-high F1 start in Brazil
3 Nov 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

Yuki Tsunoda hailed RB’s turnaround as he secured his highest-ever starting position in Formula 1 with third place during a wet qualifying at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. “Yeah, very happy, obviously,” Tsunoda told media including Motorsport Week.

“At the same time, it’s going to be a long race. It’s going to be today as well, so I have to refocus. But definitely, overall, the team did a fantastic job, especially good turnaround from yesterday.”

“It just felt weird throughout the week so far, and we made a lot of changes to the car. I think it’s hard to compare between yesterday and today because of rain and dry, but I think the car got much better.”

‘Yuki Tsunoda hails RB turnaround’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...art-in-brazil/


F1 - 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix Post-Qualifying Press Conference Transcript
03.11.24
FIA.com

Q: Congratulations, Yuki. Top three start here in São Paulo. Best career start, under incredibly difficult conditions. Just walk us through your session and the challenge of getting that perfect lap in those tricky conditions. Yuki TSUNODA: Yeah, it was very tricky. Certainly, I enjoyed it. I think we had a good pace from straightaway. Had a couple of mistakes, but yeah, had a bit of luck as well. I think overall as a team, including Liam as well, we did a really, really good job.

Q: Yuki, as a driver, how tough is it to balance that risk versus reward, especially when you're seeing other drivers crash, have incidents when you know the Grand Prix is just in a few hours, and that a big incident could eliminate you from even starting the race?

YT: Yeah, I mean, this track especially, probably is one of the trickiest tracks. Once you start building confidence and you try to over-push a little bit, you have massive consequences like we saw with multiple cars today. And I had one big moment, and luckily I was away from the barrier, but, yeah, it's certainly also the track you want to nail it. But, yeah, I feel much better than yesterday. The car felt good. I think we had a good pace in the rain as well, so it's a good place to start for today.

‘Best career start, under incredibly difficult conditions’;

https://www.fia.com/news/f1-2024-sao...nce-transcript


‘We did a very good job as a team’ – Tsunoda beaming after taking P3 on the grid in Sao Paulo
3 Nov 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

RB’s Yuki Tsunoda put in a stellar performance to take third on the grid in a wet and chaotic qualifying session at Interlagos on Sunday morning.

‘Stellar performance’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/we...05842555879568


Russell and Norris fined, Tsunoda and Lawson escape penalty for aborted start
4 Nov 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Lawson and Tsunoda escaped any sanction as the stewards reckoned that "although the drivers breached the regulation this was influenced by the driver ahead of him and as such he was not predominately responsible for the breach. As such the stewards decide to take no further action having held the driver immediately ahead of him at fault."

‘Influenced by the driver ahead”;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/25777

[Fortitude]

Piastri: Brake issues led to a “tough day” at Interlagos.
Oscar Piastri says braking issues and an overall lack of speed in the latter stages contributed to a “tough day” at Interlagos that saw the McLaren driver finish in eighth place.
7 Nov 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog

“The first half of the race, we seemed very quick. Lando was stuck behind George. I was stuck behind Liam. I got Liam out of the way, not really in the way I intended. But yeah, I think the second half of the race, after the red flag, we were just slow. think both of us just struggled with pace, and that was a pretty tough 30 laps.”

Regarding the clash with Lawson he said: “I went for a move. I was stuck behind him for a long time. Didn’t really get far enough alongside, and I spoke to him about it, and he said he didn’t see me either, which, in those conditions is fair enough. But I think it was clearly my mistake. And the penalty was deserved. So just a tough day.”

“Tough day”;

https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/11/07/...at-interlagos/


‘Fair enough’: What Oscar Piastri and Liam Lawson did in the pit lane after Sao Paulo Grand Prix collision
3 Nov 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

The race stewards deemed Piastri responsible for his crash with Lawson in the Sao Paulo GP, so slapped the McLaren star with a 10-second time penalty as well as two penalty points on his licence. Piastri also holds his hands up despite Lawson admitting he did not see the dive.

“I was stuck behind [Lawson] for a long time,” Piastri shared, via Auto Action. “I didn’t really get far enough alongside. I spoke to him about it and he said that he didn’t see me either, which in those conditions is fair enough. It was clearly my mistake and the penalty was deserved, it’s just a tough day.”

‘Fair enough’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/osc...nd-prix-crash/


‘Can’t race like this’: Piastri’s desperate radio plea as Aussie cops penalty over rare blunder
Nov 4th, 2024
Fox Sports (Australia)

It was a day to forget in Sao Paulo for Oscar Piastri and his team, McLaren. The Australian finished eighth as world championship leader Max Verstappen stunningly pushed through the field to claim victory after starting from 17th, and widen the gap on Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris in the title race.

Mid-race, the New Zealander was spun by the Australian in a little trans-Tasman showdown at the first turn. Piastri accepted full responsibility for the incident post-race. “[The penalty] was deserved. I didn’t get far enough up. I apologised in the red flag. Just one of those days,” he said.

“It was tricky, just trying to stay on track at some points was very tough.” Visibility was low and the track saturated as the downpours which plagued the weekend made life tough for drivers.

‘Can’t race like this’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...e63fe0bf991ff5


This is how Oscar Piastri felt after gifting Lando Norris the sprint win
3 Nov 2024
Matt Gretton
GPblog.com

Oscar Piastri has explained he was "fine" with handing over the sprint race victory to Lando Norris in Brazil. McLaren applied team orders to help Norris reduce the gap to Max Verstappen by one extra point in the World Championship. The gap now stands at 44 points with four Grands Prix and one sprint race remaining.

"It's not as fun as winning, but I think I know the position that we're in. We've been talking about this for months now and this is really the first time that we've had to enforce it. So, yes, I would have preferred to have won. But, again, it's a sprint. It's the same points for the team. And, being realistic, I don't have much to fight for in the driver's standings. So, we knew this is something that could and probably would happen at some point. But, I was fine with it," Piastri said.

‘How Oscar Piastri felt’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31091...do-norris.html


'I can hear': What David Croft noticed in Oscar Piastri radio after Lando Norris team orders at Sao Paulo Grand Prix
2 Nov 2024
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

David Croft senses Oscar Piatri’s ‘disappointment’ after Brazilian Grand Prix team orders. After the chequered flag, Piastri’s engineer Tom Stallard applauded him for his ‘massive support’ and urged him to be ‘proud’ despite missing out on the victory. He accepted it was a ‘good day for the team’.

But speaking on Sky Sports F1, commentator David Croft could sense the ‘disappointment’. Before Saturday, Piastri was the last driver not named Verstappen to win a Sprint, having done so in Qatar last year. However, Croft fully understands the decision. McLaren maintained their 15-point haul amid their constructors’ battle with Ferrari, and also benefitted Norris in his pursuit of Verstappen.

‘Disappointment’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/wha...lo-grand-prix/


Mark Webber could now ask McLaren for one thing in contract talks after Oscar Piastri team orders
2 Nov 2024
Luke-John Buckle
F1 Oversteer

A bonus for Piastri may be an extra incentive for the Australian to aid Norris’ championship challenge in the closing stages of the year. Chandhok explained that Webber may want to negotiate a deal for his driver after Piastri’s selfless act in Brazil.

He said: “Yeah, absolutely. He’s pulled another two on Verstappen, hasn’t he? That’s the important equation for him. I wonder if Mark Webber will still negotiate the bonus for Oscar Piastri for from that. He should.”

Sky Sports F1’s lead commentator David Croft then responded saying Webber may want to talk directly to Norris. He added: “I’m sure he’ll go and see Lando Norris and have a little chat going, ‘my man deserved that one’.”

“Bonus for Oscar Piastri for from that.”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mar...i-team-orders/

[Fortitude]

Liam Lawson ninth in chaotic F1 Brazilian Grand Prix.
New Zealander Liam Lawson has equalled his best Formula One result after finishing ninth in wet conditions at the Brazilian Grand Prix, which saw Red Bull's Max Verstappen drive to victory from 17th place.
4 Nov 2024
Radio New Zealand

Lawson was largely pleased with his performance. "Two cars in the points is good, it's great for the team. I think obviously from where we started it's a bit of a shame. I think our race really got unwound a little bit when we got turned around at the start but I think obviously then we boxed for extremes. It was tough but honestly the survive was hard enough, it was a very brutal race," Lawson said.

‘Ninth’;

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/532...ian-grand-prix


Lawson left with mixed feelings after ‘brutal race’ in Brazil
3 Nov 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

Liam Lawson finished P9 for RB at Interlagos but felt he could have done better had he not been tagged into a spin at the start.

‘Mixed feelings’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/la...27587092319859


Liam Lawson relieved to not crash ’10 times’ in F1 Brazil GP
8 Nov 2024
Harry Whitfield
Motorsport Week

RB driver Liam Lawson felt fortunate to only have spun off the track once and not crash out on 10 occasions throughout the Formula 1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. “We obviously lost a lot of time in the red flag, that was just really unlucky timing, Alpine made the right call there by staying out.”

“Honestly, I didn’t think we would have made another lap on the inters, it was so wet, so fair play to the guys who did stay out but, obviously, something I’ll learn from. I think, initially, I probably jumped the gun a little bit and thought it was too wet but, I’ll learn from that going forward.”

He added: “I nearly crashed the car probably 10 times, It was very sketchy but the most important thing was staying on the track and, fortunately, we were able to do that.”

‘Relieved to not crash’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...-f1-brazil-gp/


Lawson “almost crashed the car 10 times” in treacherous Sao Paulo GP
Liam Lawson has admitted he came close to crashing out of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on multiple occasions.
4 Nov 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe

Lawson crossed the line ninth in Sunday’s race in Interlagos to score two valuable points for RB. He spent the latter laps battling with Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez, seeing both off to retain his equal best result of the season. That followed a career-best qualifying position after he started fifth.

It was a result achieved despite treacherous conditions in both qualifying and the race – the former interrupted by five red flags, and the latter halted once. That came for Franco Colapinto, who crashed under the Safety Car after it had been deployed for worsening conditions.

‘Treacherous Sao Paulo’;

https://speedcafe.com/lawson-almost-...-sao-paulo-gp/


Lawson in 'survival mode' during brutal' Brazilian GP
Liam Lawson banked another points haul for RB in a wet and wild Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
6 Nov 2024
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Liam Lawson has described how survival was "hard enough" in the rain-hit Sao Paulo Grand Prix, in which he finished ninth. "Our race really got unwound a little bit when we got turned around [by Piastri], and then we boxed for extreme [wet] tyres, but it was tough and honestly, to survive was hard enough.”

"It was a very brutal race, we struggled a little bit at the end for pace, but the start was strong, so maybe we used a bit too much of the tyre. We will have a look." Lawson also touched on the battle for sixth in the constructors', which RB was in a fight with Haas over, but Alpine 33 point haul for a double podium result with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly lifted the team up to sixth, who are now three points ahead of Haas and five of RB.

"It is a shame, but obviously Alpine made the most of a race like this, and it is great for them so congratulations," said Lawson.

'Survival mode';

https://racingnews365.com/lawson-in-...l-brazilian-gp

[Fortitude]

Hamilton's final Mercedes season can't end soon enough.
Hamilton's 10th place, after a shock Q1 exit and a frustrating race that ended with a long final stint stuck between RB driver Liam Lawson and Red Bull's Sergio Perez, is a far cry from the mid-season peak of two wins in three grands prix.
Nov 4, 2024
Scott Mitchell-Malm, Edd Straw
The Race

When it was put to him by The Race that, with Mercedes still struggling with an inconsistent car and not being as fast as the top three teams, he may be keen to get to the end of a season that is clearly not ending well, Hamilton replied: "No, it can't come soon enough."

"It's devastating to have these bad races in the second half of the season," said Hamilton. "But all I can say is we're trying. It's definitely not acceptable, it's definitely not good enough. And we have to take accountability, I have to take accountability.”

"But I am doing the best with what I've got. The car has been the worst this weekend. I don't know what it is, we're going to have to find out what it is." Not for the first time, Hamilton alluded to a difference in the quality of the equipment at Mercedes.

“It can't come soon enough";

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/l...ating-f1-form/


Unheard Lewis Hamilton radio message reveals tough opinion on Mercedes W15
4 Nov 2024
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Lewis Hamilton wasn’t holding back as he told Mercedes that his W15 was the “worst” it had ever been as he completed the Brazilian Grand Prix in 10th place. Hamilton had a difficult start to the weekend, complaining of pain during Friday’s FP1 as he struggled with bouncing.

Speaking to the media as his team-mate George Russell contested Q3 and qualified up on the front row of the grid, Hamilton said: “The car I have right now, it’s the worst I’ve ever driven.” It was a complaint he reiterated to Mercedes at the end of the 71-lap Grand Prix.

“That was a disaster weekend, guys,” he radioed to Mercedes after taking the chequered flag in 10th place. “That’s the worst the car’s ever been. But thank you for continuing to try, great job. To all the guys that are p*ssed off, if this is the last time that I get to perform, it’s a shame it wasn’t great, but grateful to you.”

‘The “worst” it had ever been’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/unhear...n-mercedes-w15


Mercedes baffled by Lewis Hamilton’s cryptic radio message – but have Ferrari signed a busted flush?
Seven-time champion hinted ’disaster of a weekend’ in Brazil would be his last race of the season but he has three left before jumping ship
4 Nov 2024
Tom Cary
The Telegraph

A cryptic radio message from Lewis Hamilton to his team, which was not broadcast until after Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix, has prompted speculation that the 39-year-old may have driven for Mercedes for the final time.

In the message, which took place on Hamilton’s warm-down lap after he finished 10th at Interlagos, the seven-time world champion, who is joining Ferrari next season, concedes he has had a “disaster of a weekend” and describes his car as “the worst it has ever been”.

Hamilton then adds: “But thank you for continuing to try. Great job from the guys at the pitstop. If this is the last time that I get to perform, it’s a shame it wasn’t great, but grateful for you.” Mercedes were said to be surprised by the enigmatic message, with the team insisting there were no plans for Hamilton to step down for the final triple-header.

‘The enigmatic message’;

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-...yptic-ferrari/


Lewis Hamilton lambasts Mercedes F1 car as ‘worst ever’ after Brazil GP ‘disaster’
Hamilton finished 10th after a chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix as his time at Mercedes nears an end
3 Nov 2024
Kieran Jackson
Independent

Lewis Hamilton insists his Mercedes car during the Brazilian Grand Prix was his “worst ride ever” as the seven-time F1 world champion finished 10th in Sao Paulo.

Starting 14th on the grid, the seven-time F1 world champion struggled for grip on the wet Interlagos track and dropped back early on.

After the mid-race red flag, Hamilton progressed to occupy 10th – the final points position – and kept off the challenge of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez behind him.

‘Worst ever’;

https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/lew...-b2640667.html


Lewis Hamilton congratulates Max Verstappen on “amazing” F1 Sao Paulo GP win
Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have congratulated Max Verstappen on his impressive F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix victory.
4 Nov 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Lewis Hamilton has congratulated Max Verstappen on winning the F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix from 17th on the grid. The seven-time world champion responded to Verstappen’s celebratory Instagram post, commenting: “Amazing drive, congrats” which was accompanied by a fist bump emoji.

Verstappen and Hamilton were seen having a brief chat ahead of the national anthem on the grid. While their on-track rivalry in 2021 was intense as they battled for the drivers’ championship, the pair’s respect for each other seems to be at its highest.

Hamilton endured a difficult race at Interlagos as he finished a disappointing 10th. The 39-year-old beamoned the handling of his W15 in Brazil, likening it to a “plank of wood”. Hamilton will have three more races with Mercedes before he switches to Ferrari for the 2025 F1 season alongside Charles Leclerc.

‘W15 in Brazil, likening it to a “plank of wood”.’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/105983...o-paulo-gp-win


In photos: Driving Senna's McLaren is an 'honour' - Lewis Hamilton
Nov 3, 2024
ESPN
ESPN.com

Lewis Hamilton said driving Ayrton Senna's McLaren MP4/5B at Interlagos was "very emotional" and "the greatest honour of my career." Hamilton said afterwards: "It's very emotional. I was just revisiting my childhood as I was watching Ayrton race here as a kid, hearing that sound and watching him drive here and winning in that race.

"I just couldn't believe that I just had that chance to do that. And it was really the greatest honour of my career to do it in front of this beautiful crowd here in Brazil who stood out in the rain all day yesterday, and have been here since 4:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m. this morning."

Hamilton, who had a special white race suit and helmet made for the occasion, said it was an honour to get the opportunity: "I really love Brazil and I really love the people and I'm so grateful. To even have my citizenship here is such a huge honour. So I hope Senna can be proud. That was the best drive of the whole weekend.”

"Very emotional";

https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/4...mclaren-honour


Hamilton on driving Senna's car: 'Greatest honour of my career'
Nov 03, 2024
TSN

“It is very emotional, naturally,” said Hamilton as he held the Brazilian flag on his back. “I was revisiting my childhood as I watched Ayrton racing here. I can't believe I am having this opportunity. “It is the greatest honor of my career to do it in front of this amazing crowd in Brazil,” said Hamilton, who in 2022 became an honorary Brazilian citizen by a motion of the country's congress.

“I won my first championship here, had my best ever drive here, and now to be in this country as an honorary citizen driving my hero’s car is almost too much to comprehend. It doesn’t feel real,” he said. “It’s a massive honour and one that I’ll look back on as one of the highlights of my life.”

Luciane D'Angelo, 45, was one of the tearful fans watching Hamilton drive at Interlagos. As a child, she used to watch F1 races with her father, who currently suffers from a serious disease she did not disclose. “I cry because Ayrton's tragic death still leaves us with this massive void. He made children of that time enjoy their Sundays with their families even more. He wasn't only one of the greatest F1 drivers in history, but also a person that every Brazilian learned to admire,” she said.

“Ayrton's tragic death still leaves us with this massive void”;

https://www.tsn.ca/auto-racing/lewis...reer-1.2199626