Brazilian Grand Prix: Can Verstappen still lose everything?

With four Grands Prix remaining in the season, Max Verstappen remains under threat from Lando Norris in the world championship. The Dutchman seems to be on a tightrope.

With 47 points more in the world championship than his first pursuer, Lando Norris, one could believe that Max Verstappen’s fourth consecutive title is already in his pocket four races before the end of the 2024 season. This would be to ignore the uncertainty motor sports – where the machine counts at least as much as the man – and the current dynamic of the Dutchman, suddenly back in line since the start of the summer. After bagging seven victories in the first ten Grands Prix, Verstappen has not won a single one. A drought of more than four months during which all its rivals shared the cake.

The three-time world champion obviously did not suddenly lose his driving skills. But its car, so dominant for three years, was overtaken by the McLarens, the Ferraris and to a lesser degree by the Mercedes. Like Verstappen, Red Bull has not won any of the last ten races. The Austrian team, initially overtaken by McLaren in the constructors’ standings, even ceded its second place to Ferrari at the end of the Mexican Grand Prix last weekend. The lack of performance from the RB20 obviously affects Verstappen. But the nervousness expressed by the Dutch driver in Austin and then in Mexico over the last fortnight is somewhat disturbing.

Verstappen, 27 years old since September, has always had a very aggressive driving style. But several of his maneuvers in the United States and Mexico, each time facing Norris, went beyond the limits. Moreover, after having been very (too?) lenient with him in Texas, the stewards punished him harshly last Sunday, twice inflicting a 20-second penalty on him for having taken too much liberty with the width of the track. . To the point that Norris, pushed completely outside the limits of the track during the 4th lap on a defense from Verstappen, suggested afterwards that his rival would emerge victorious from a collision which would send both cars to the carpet.

This is the advantage of Verstappen who maintains a good margin before the final straight of the season. But while two of the last four Grands Prix will offer a Sprint, this weekend at Brazil then in Qatar in a month, there are still enough points at stake for Norris to turn the tables. Will Verstappen, who will be demoted five places on the starting grid on Sunday for having changed the engine of his car, tremble until the end?

At what time to follow the Grand Prix du Brazil ?

Due to the four-hour time difference between Paris and São Paulo, we will have to wait until mid-afternoon on Friday to see the drivers make their debut on the Interlagos circuit. The 21st Grand Prix of the season includes a sprint race, so the serious things will begin on Friday evening with qualifying for this mini Grand Prix. This is scheduled for Saturday before the “real” qualifying session at the start of the evening. The start of the race will be given late Sunday afternoon.

• Free practice 1 at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, November 1 (duration: 1 hour)
• Sprint qualifying at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 1 (duration: 1 hour)
• Sprint at 3 p.m. on Saturday November 2 (duration: 45 minutes)
• Qualifying at 7 p.m. on Saturday November 2 (duration: 1 hour)
• Grand Prix at 6 p.m. on Sunday November 3 (duration: 2 hours maximum)

On which TV channel look the Grand Price of Brazil ?

The Brazilian Grand Prix will be broadcast exclusively on the channels of the Canal group, holder of the rights to the Formula 1 world championship. You will have to tune in to Canal+ Sport to watch the drivers compete on the first day while Canal+360 and Canal+ will share the Sprint and qualifying session on Saturday. The Grand Prix, at aperitif time on Sunday evening, will be broadcast on the premium channel.

• Friday: Free 1 at 3:15 p.m. + Sprint qualifying at 7:15 p.m. on Canal+ Sport
• Saturday: Sprint at 2:40 p.m. on Canal+360 + Qualifying at 6:45 p.m. on Canal
• Sunday: “La Grille” show at 4:25 p.m. + Grand Prix at 6 p.m. on Canal+

Drivers’ world championship ranking (after 20 GP)

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 362 points
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) 315 points
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 291 points
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 251 points
5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 240 points
6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 189 points
7. George Russell (Mercedes) 177 points
8. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) 150 points
9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 62 points
10. Niko Hülkenberg (Haas) 31 points
11. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 24 points
12. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) 22 points
13. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) 14 points
14. Alex Albon (Williams) 12 points
14. Daniel Ricciardo (Racing Bulls) 12 points
16. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 9 points
17. Oliver Bearman (Ferrari) 7 points
18. Franco Colapinto (Williams) 5 points
18. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) 5 points
20. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) 2 points

What are the dates for the F1 Grands Prix in 2024?

The 2024 Formula 1 season will have 24 Grands Prix. It began at the end of February in Bahrain and will end at the beginning of December in Abu Dhabi. Here is the complete F1 2024 calendar with times given in French time:

1. Bahrain (Sakhir): Saturday March 2 (Winner: Verstappen)
2. Saudi Arabia (Jeddah): Saturday March 9 (Winner: Verstappen)
3. Australia (Melbourne): Sunday March 24 (Winner: Sainz)
4. Japan (Suzuka): Sunday April 7 (Winner: Verstappen)
5. China (Shanghai): Sunday April 21 (Winner: Verstappen)
6. Miami (Miami): Sunday May 5 at 10 p.m. (Winner: Norris)
7. Emilia-Romagna (Imola) : Sunday May 19 (Winner: Verstappen)
8. Monaco: Sunday May 26 (Winner: Leclerc)
9. Canada (Montreal): Sunday June 9 (Winner: Verstappen)
10. Spain (Barcelona): Sunday June 23 (Winner: Verstappen)
11. Austria (Spielberg): Sunday June 30 (Winner: Russell)
12. Great Britain (Silverstone): Sunday July 7 (Winner: Hamilton)
13. Hungary (Budapest): Sunday July 21 (Winner: Piastri)
14. Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps) : Sunday July 28 (Winner: Hamilton)
15. Netherlands (Zandvoort): Sunday August 25 (Winner: Norris)
16. Italy (Monza): Sunday September 1 (Winner: Leclerc)
17. Azerbaijan (Baku): Sunday September 15 (Winner: Piastri)
18. Singapore (Marina Bay): Sunday September 22 (Winner: Norris)
19. United States (Austin): Sunday October 20 (Winner: Leclerc)
20. Mexico (Mexico): Sunday October 27 (Winner: Sainz)
21. Brazil (Interlagos): Sunday November 3 at 6 p.m.
22. Las Vegas (Las Vegas): Sunday November 24 at 6 a.m.
23. Qatar (Losail): Sunday December 1st at 3 p.m.
24. Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina): Sunday December 8 at 2 p.m.