STRATEGY GUIDE: What are the tactical options for the Sao Paulo GP?

Lando Norris took P1 at Interlagos for the third year in a row, and is joined on the front row by Kimi Antonelli. But behind the front pair there’s an unusual look to the grid, with Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg on row two, and Isack Hadjar and Ollie Bearman on row three.

The rest of the order is similarly topsy-turvy, in some instances because the wet-weather cream of the crop rose up the order in horrible conditions in Qualifying, but also because Max Verstappen, George Russell and both Ferrari drivers have elected to take tactical engine penalties here in Brazil.

It’s the right circuit to take the hit, given Interlagos is a good track for overtaking. It is frequently a multi-stop race, and it dispenses mayhem with predictably unpredictable frequency. The weather forecast is exciting, the top four teams are very closely matched on performance, and strategy is going to play a huge part today. Let the games begin!