The Sao Paulo Grand Prix is without doubt one of the most anticipated race weekends of the yr, bringing a heady mixture of wheel-to-wheel racing, testing weather conditions, and an electrical environment cascading down from the grandstands.
Aston Martin Aramco Sporting Director Andy Stevenson explains why it is one in every of his favorite occasions and the way the staff will probably be approaching the Dash weekend.
Samba, Selecao, and Dash. The F1 paddock makes its annual journey to Brazil for the ever-popular Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Autdromo Jos Carlos Tempo, higher often known as Interlagos, has held numerous classics through the years to the rhythm of a fervent carnival environment.
It is as commemorated as it’s vibrant, owing to its propensity to ship inclement climate with little warning and close-quarters racing.
Sporting Director Andy Stevenson provides his information to assembly the challenges of racing in Brazil, discusses his priorities on the tail-end of the yr, and remembers a few of his favorite reminiscences from earlier visits to Sao Paulo.
What are you specializing in most within the closing levels of this season?Andy Stevenson: “There’s heaps occurring, together with planning for 2026, however I am staying very a lot within the second as a result of this season’s not over. We have nonetheless bought 4 Grands Prix and two Sprints to compete during which are extraordinarily necessary.
“There are lots of factors at stake and we’re in the midst of a decent midfield battle which is separated by little greater than a tenth on any given race weekend.
“Our purpose is to complete as excessive as we presumably can within the championship and we’ll do every part we will to attain that. There’s a lot nonetheless to play for.
“It is an especially busy time of yr, by the point we subsequent get a couple of days off it’s going to be Christmas, however it’s thrilling.”
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix is usually some of the unpredictable of the yr. What’s our method to this race weekend?AS: “We should be able to capitalise on any alternatives that come our method.
“We all know Interlagos typically offers an thrilling race due to elements like changeable climate and so we have to optimise and execute our weekend in addition to we will, navigating any treacherous circumstances.
“It seems just like the climate goes to be significantly difficult on Saturday once we’ve bought each the Dash and Qualifying to cope with, however we’ll be giving it our all. It is a problem to stay up for.
“In my Jordan Grand Prix days, the 2003 version of this race was a first-rate instance of taking alternative within the chaos.
“The race was stopped due to dangerous climate and on-track incidents, and a countback error led to Kimi Rikknen being awarded the victory and Giancarlo Fisichella second place for our staff.
“We had been pretty satisfied we might received the race, however we wanted to show our case, so we took the ECU from Giancarlo’s automotive to current at a listening to, and that proof was sufficient for us to be awarded victory.
“What folks maybe do not find out about that story is the individual taking care of the ECU left it in a suitcase in one of many rent autos we might used that weekend, assuming we had been additionally utilizing them to get to the airport… which we weren’t.
“So, whereas we had been at our lodge celebrating what was then a podium that we had been assured would turn out to be a win, it dawned on us the rent car had been taken away. It took us about six hours to relocate that car and get better the ECU.
“That weekend summed up racing in Brazil. Something can occur and also you simply must be there to take benefit. We would bought ourselves right into a place to be in with an opportunity of victory.
“As a staff, we by no means gave up. The beauty of our sport is, relying on what occurs on the day, you possibly can win a Grand Prix. And that is the angle you want each single race weekend.”
It is also the penultimate Dash weekend of the yr. What’s your evaluation of how we meet the calls for of the format?AS: “The Dash weekend schedule has been honed and may be very environment friendly, and the groups deserve credit score for his or her involvement in refining it.
“I feel we deal with them very effectively and that could be a testomony to our whole operation. That begins with preparation and manufacturing of elements on the AMR Expertise Campus, by getting the elements despatched out to the varied races, after which ensuring that they are within the appropriate specification as soon as they’re on the monitor, which takes an enormous quantity of organisation. After which it is all the way down to the mechanics to get the vehicles constructed and prepared in a really quick time period.
“Dash weekends are intense, however now we have the processes in place to make sure we’re prepared for no matter comes our method.”
We normally see entertaining racing at Interlagos. Why is that the case?AS: “Except for the climate, the circuit structure lends itself effectively to shut racing with a number of overtaking alternatives. Chief amongst these being the long term to Flip One the place we have seen numerous overtakes through the years.
“It is a circuit the place you possibly can take totally different strains, particularly by the technical Sector Two, once you’re battling a competitor and we noticed that with Fernando in 2023 as he used his nice racecraft to earn a podium.
“Interlagos has a little bit of every part and drivers can method it in numerous methods, which means there’s normally good, arduous racing by the sector.”
The Brazilian followers are famed for the environment they generate on the circuit. What’s that wish to expertise?AS: “This is without doubt one of the standout races of the yr due to the environment.
“Sitting on the pit wall, you possibly can inform the vehicles are coming due to the emotion and the response of the followers within the grandstand. It is like a Mexican wave of sound down the beginning/end straight; it is phenomenal.
“I used to be actually lucky to be in Brazil in 1991 when Ayrton Senna mania was at its peak.
“It was one in every of my first Grands Prix, however I would by no means seen something prefer it and nor have I since. We would get close to to the circuit and also you could not see something. It was a sea of individuals.
“And as we might be driving by, the followers could be clapping and cheering, chanting Senna’s title, and banging on our staff bus. They had been simply so enthusiastic.
“I depend myself fortunate to have seen that, and I do not know whether or not we’ll ever see something as magical as that once more.
“Reminiscences like which might be why I’ve such a passion for this race weekend.”
