Interlagos appeal: mixed format and mixed weather

Wednesday and it’s sunny in São Paulo, but looking at the rest of the week we could be in for rain by the weekend – and perhaps even thunderstorms on Sunday!

From what I know, that’s quite typical. I had experienced two wet free practice sessions before my first proper race weekend on a dry Interlagos last year.

This week we’re back to the Sprint race format, and after last year I’m familiar with how it plays out at this track. Up and down the paddock there are mixed opinions about these events, in terms of what the Sprint race actually adds, and how an hour of free practice after qualifying seems a bit like wasted time.

I’ve always been quite open minded about the Sprint format, and enjoyed the switch up it brings to the usual schedule. Personally, I don’t mind them.

Naturally, when you’re in the position of our team you have less to lose and another race means another potential opportunity. But you can look at it two ways: If you have an amazing qualifying, you won’t want the Sprint race because there’s a chance you could drop back down the field. And if you don’t qualify well, the opposite applies.

The track itself is one of the older, more historic ones on the calendar. It’s very tight and twisty on the infield sections, and more fast and flowing around the perimeter.

On paper, going on the current trends, and what we saw here last year, it’s not a track that’s going to be great for us.
For that reason, I’m hoping the weather conditions stay changeable and have an influence on Saturday and Sunday. Another opportunity to mix things up will be welcome.