2024 Brazilian Grand Prix: Who is leaving happy and who disappointed?

Photo: Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

04. 11. 2024 23:43 CET
4 min

2024 Brazilian Grand Prix: Who is leaving happy and who disappointed?

Eliška Ryšánková
News.GP journalist who’s all about the thrilling worlds of MotoGP and Formula 1.

Formula 1 f1brazil winners&losers summaries

The São Paulo Grand Prix was a rollercoaster of emotions, with some teams leaving Interlagos on a high and others facing major disappointments. While Max Verstappen's epic comeback and Alpine’s historic double podium were standout moments, McLaren managed a damage-limiting weekend. Meanwhile, Lando Norris, Aston Martin, and Mercedes were left reeling from setbacks in the title fight.

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Losers: Lando Norris

After a thrilling performance in the Sprint race, Lando Norris aimed to dominate further, starting from pole position at Interlagos while his title rival, Max Verstappen, lined up 17th. However, Norris’s chances slipped away early when he lost the lead at Turn 1 to George Russell. McLaren's strategic decision to switch wings after the Sprint, preparing for the wet conditions, left their car only the fourth-fastest on the straights. Despite having impressive pace, Norris couldn't reclaim the lead.

His race took a turn for the worse with an unfortunate pit stop for fresh tires just as the Virtual Safety Car ended. Matters deteriorated further when a red flag soon followed, gifting competitors like Verstappen a free tire change. Overall, Norris finished sixth, marking his worst result from pole position this season.

Winners: Alpine

Alpine had a turnaround weekend in Brazil, achieving their first racing laps inside the top five. The wet conditions worked in their favor, delivering an unexpected but impressive double podium. Esteban Ocon briefly led the race and secured second place, while Pierre Gasly finished third.

This double podium is a milestone for Alpine and marks the first time since 1997 that two French drivers have shared a podium. With a massive 33-point haul, Alpine jumped three places in the constructors' championship, moving up to sixth.

Losers: Aston Martin

Aston Martin had a disastrous weekend in Brazil. Despite the team’s tremendous effort to repair both cars after qualifying crashes, misfortune lingered. Lance Stroll spun out on the formation lap and couldn't even start the race, citing a possible brake failure before getting stuck in the gravel.

Fernando Alonso had a slightly better race but ultimately finished 14th after a spin. Alonso also reported significant discomfort from the car's bouncing, capping off a tough and painful weekend for the team.

Winner: Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen bounced back from a difficult weekend in Mexico with a victory at Interlagos. Starting from 17th, Verstappen displayed exceptional skill, moving up seven places in the opening laps. Though the red flag aided him with a free tire change, he had already demonstrated masterful control in the challenging conditions.

This win, his first since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, ended a 10-race winless streak and saw him break Michael Schumacher’s record for the most consecutive days leading the drivers' championship. Now, Verstappen heads to Las Vegas with a chance to secure his fourth consecutive title, needing just one more win to seal it.

Loser: Haas

Haas's run of scoring points came to an end in Brazil. Ollie Bearman, substituting for Kevin Magnussen, was knocked out in Q1, finishing 17th, while Nico Hulkenberg qualified 19th, outpaced by his teammate for the third race in a row.

During the race, Hulkenberg was black-flagged after receiving outside assistance, and Bearman finished 12th, marking his first non-scoring Grand Prix. It was a disappointing result for a team aiming to sustain their momentum.

Winner: RB

Despite being overtaken by Alpine in the constructors' standings, RB had a memorable weekend. Yuki Tsunoda delivered an outstanding qualifying performance in the wet, securing P3, while Liam Lawson impressed with a fifth-place start. Though they lost ground in the second stint, Tsunoda equaled his best finish of the year in seventh, and Lawson scored points for the second time in three starts.

This marked the first time RB had both cars in the points this season, pulling them closer to Haas and Alpine in a fierce battle for sixth in the standings.

Losers: Williams

Williams had a costly and catastrophic weekend in Brazil, suffering three major incidents in one day. Alex Albon’s crash in qualifying caused severe damage, preventing him from starting the Grand Prix. Franco Colapinto also crashed, bringing out a red flag as water streamed across the track.

Team principal James Vowles acknowledged the significant repair work required to prepare for the Las Vegas race, making the upcoming weeks tense and challenging.

Winners: McLaren

McLaren started the weekend on a high note, securing a front-row lockout for the Sprint and converting it into a one-two finish, with Oscar Piastri allowing Norris to pass for the win. Norris then set a stunning lap to claim pole for the Grand Prix. However, his race performance fell short, finishing sixth, while Piastri ended up eighth.

Despite this being their weakest performance since Austria, McLaren extended their lead over Ferrari by seven points in the constructors' championship, now 36 points ahead.

Loser: Mercedes

Mercedes left Brazil lamenting missed opportunities. George Russell, who qualified second and even led the race, was overtaken by three drivers who benefitted from a free pit stop thanks to the red flag. Russell eventually finished fourth.

Lewis Hamilton had an even tougher weekend, finishing 10th, his worst result at Interlagos since joining Mercedes. His struggles began with being eliminated in Q1 for the third time this season, adding to the team's disappointment.

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