Timo Scheider talks past, present and future with Slipstream SA.

Timo Scheider has been in motorsport since 1989 and has achieved success in every category entered, including two DTM titles in 2008 and 2009. He made the transition to rallycross in 2015 with All-Inkl Munnich Motorsport and has remained with the team ever since.

Racing background

Scheider's motorsport career started in 1989, and already at the age of 14, he won the 1992 karting winter cup in Kerpen, Germany. In 1995, he went on to win the German Formula Renault 1800 championship in his debut season.

From 1997 to 2005, he joined the Formula 3 championship before progressing to the FIA GT Championship where he claimed wins in the 24h Spa-Francorchamps and 24h Nürburgring. Scheider then joined DTM in 2006 with Team Rosberg and went on to claim two consecutive titles in 2008 and 2009. 

The 41-year-old German fell in love with rallycross after a test with All-Inkl Munnich Motorsport in Loheac, France in 2015. 

In 2017, he competed in 11 rounds of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, and during his first race weekend in Barcelona, the German stunned many, taking the top qualifiers position. He then finished second in his semi-final race, rounding off the weekend with a second-place finish overall. 

In his first full season (in 2017), Scheider claimed an impressive tenth place in the overall World RX drivers' standings.

In addition to racing in World RX, Scheider joined BMW as a factory driver to compete in GT racing. 

This season, Scheider has competed in the full FIA World Rallycross Championship with All-Inkl Munnich Motorsport and claimed his best result of the season, a fourth-place finish in Silverstone (World RX of Great Britain). 

Timo Scheider took some time out of his busy schedule on media/set-up day to answer a few questions.

Junaid Samodien: Where did it all begin for you? What made you want to become a racing driver?

Timo Scheider: I am coming from a family that has been addicted to rallying and motorsport especially. Back in 1988, everything changed for me when I got my very first go-kart for Christmas. One of my older brothers was karting back then just for fun without any proper reason, but then my father decided to present me with a go-kart for Christmas, and back then everything started. 

JS: Having won two DTM titles, the 24h Nurburgring, 24h Spa-Francorchamps and the 24 hours of LeMans in the GT Class. Is there anything you still want to achieve in your career?

TS: (Laughs) My list is already quite long with the success that I have had in circuit racing, but a few years ago I got addicted to the rallycross sport and for sure a dream would be to set up the right package to fight for the World RX title one day. For sure, I am here for a couple of events now but this is only my second full World Rallycross season. So, I think it would be fun and it would be pretty cool to line-up all the success that I have had with a title in World RX.

JS: What interested you to join the World Rallycross Championship?

TS: My engineer in DTM Laurent Fedacou who is now engineering Anton Marklund in World RX. He brought me to All-Inkl Racing back in 2015 and he talked to the team boss Rene Munnich and asked for a chance to get a test drive and I did that in Loheac back then and straight from the very first moment I was in love with this driving style and these cars. Since then I have to say the racing and driving the car is so much fun. I never experienced something like this before. 

JS: How would you assess the 2019 season to date (performance-wise)?

TS: The expectation has been higher this year, but in the end, the field got very competitive with the Hansen’s Peugeot, the Audi’s and also Gronholm with the Hyundai’s, they came back and came into the season even without factory backing and delivered pretty good. We thought that maybe not all of them would be here in ‘19 but all of them are and I think we have never seen such a competitive championship season before. 

Here and there we were able to catch a podium or something, and we started off the season quite well running P3 in Abu Dhabi and then we had a gearbox failure, but stuff like this happens in rallying and we see that we are not where we should have been but you know this is rallycross and I am aiming for more in the future. 

Timo Scheider leads while the GCK Academy drivers tangle into Turn 2.
PHOTO: Junaid Samodien.

JS: Do you think that you can win races or a championship with All-Inkl Racing?

TS: That is the dream and hope that I still have. I think when you come from a background like All-Inkl Racing has with passionate people who are trying to make this happen on one side, and on the other side, you can’t compare this to a factory team. For sure, you see some updates and you see some positives. I would love to compete for those guys (factory teams) but at the end of the day, it's depending a bit on how the championship will create and develop in the future. If it turns over into electric, we will see, but sooner or later I am sure that if we get bits and pieces together that we can probably fight some others. 

JS: What are your thoughts on Projekt E and the potential switch to electric rallycross in 2021?   

TS: I'm honest on one side and with my history being a petrolhead. Right now we have to be sensible and for sure we have to see the overall picture in racing and our world. So, that is why we should be sensitive. You have to be open-minded about electrical racing, which is going on in different categories – even if it's in Extreme E or Projekt E or whatever it will be called in ‘21, but hopefully, it will arrive in World RX soon. This opens more doors and also closing other doors.  But I am open-minded and I am also looking into a bright future with electrical cars because I think this is the reality and we should not close our eyes with this because at some point we need to think about what is possible and what is not possible for our future. 

JS: Having had a connection with BMW. Do you think the switch to electric rallycross will see BMW enter? 

TS: Well, I am still a factory driver with BMW. We are talking about this and I can tell you that ‘yes’ BMW is always sensible when assessing all motorsport categories in the world, which could be interesting to them. For sure, World Rallycross is something on the plate, but if it's in the future or soon – and it's something that they are able to run or want to run, I am not sure, but for sure I am always someone to support this if it's happening.

JS: Would you ever consider starting your own World RX team?

TS: To be honest this has come up from time-to-time but you know in terms of the business and in terms of the fun and the knowledge. I have run my own Formula 4 team in Germany, but you know if you don’t have the backing from the factories, it's mega, mega difficult to find all these budgets and get everything the way that you like to have it. The problem is if you are not ready with the full budget package that you should have or need to be competitive then there is more stress and more negative emotions, and everything else that surrounds it. 

If I want to start something I must have a proper set-up in place with a high level of quality that I would like to deliver, and then to reach that level because there are critical circumstances in World RX now and motorsport, in general, you have to be very sensible if you think about that. 

JS: The FIA World Rallycross Championship will be heading to the Nurburgring in 2020. Would you ever consider doing a lap of the Nordschleife in a World Rallycross car?

TS: (Laughs) Well… Fortunately, the Nordschleife is pretty quick in most of the areas. So, I think it would not suit a Rallycross car so much because of the short gearboxes (gear ratios) that we have but just to have that emotion. Why not? 

I have a lot of things in common with the Nordschleife in my history. I have won in car and also on a bike around the circuit. I have also won the 24 hours of the Nurburgring and a DTM race as well. For sure, to drive a World RX car around the Nordschleife would be something to tick off in my history book.
       
JS: You have raced on a number of World RX circuits in a number of countries? I have a challenge for you. Can you DRAW your ideal World RX circuit, or what would it look like?

TS: This is very difficult. Are you talking about a World RX circuit? 

JS: Yes, your ideal World RX circuit.

Timo based his circuit layout around circuit racing with long straights and a few corners.

A very special 'Thank You' to Timo Scheider for taking some time out of his very busy schedule to chat with us.

Written By - Junaid Samodien
Co-Editor - Franco Theron [PedalFest SA]
Circuit drawn by - Timo Scheider
Pictures By - FIA World RX Media/Junaid Samodien
Published On - Wheels24.com

Alfa Romeo: 2019 Brazilian GP Preview.

Brazil and rhythm go hand in hand. Paint a mental picture of Copacabana, imagine the raucous celebrations of the Carnival or even delve into the atmosphere of the lesser-known parts of the country and you're bound to draw up a vast, colourful soundtrack to go with it. 

Brazilians have music in their veins. Samba, bossa nova, choro and many more - even the genres reflect the uniquely varied cultural, historical and social background of the country. The common theme that unifies them all is rhythm. It's the same rhythm the local footballers show on the pitch - their feet almost dancing around the ball since the times of Garrincha. 

The same applies to Interlagos. It's an old-school track - bumpy, physical, draining for the driver. It's a circuit with narrow, twisty sections leading into high-speed corners, sharp turns, barriers ready to put an end to your race at the first error. To master it, you guessed it, you need rhythm. From the S do Senna in sector one to the left and rights of Pineirinho and Bico de Pato, the track comes at the driver like a capoeirista. It's always moving, always asking of those behind the steering wheel. To go fast, you need to become one with this dance.

From the first lap of practice, driving here is a never-ending quest for rhythm.

Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal Alfa Romeo Racing and CEO Sauber Motorsport AG

“Everyone in the team is working relentlessly to push us forward and back into the points. The last few races have shown progress, but we know we still have some work ahead of us to get back to the front of the midfield. We can build on the positives and on our strenghts in the confidence we can make another step forward in Brazil.”

Kimi Räikkönen 

“This weekend’s race is another chance for us to score points. There have been a lot of positives in our most recent performances and we feel we can now fight in the midfield once again: it would be nice to have some points to show for our progress at the end of the weekend.”

Antonio Giovinazzi 

“I am really looking forward to racing in Interlagos. It is a special track, one forever linked with Senna and with so much Formula One history. The renewal of my contract is a big confidence boost and I cannot wait to repay the faith the team has shown in me. We have made some big steps forward in the last few races and getting back into the points would be the right reward for all of our hard work.”

Preview Provided By: Alfa Romeo Racing

Racing Point: 2019 Brazilian GP Preview.

Lance Stroll

“Racing at Interlagos is always an interesting experience. There is so much passion and emotion from the Brazilian fans. They love racing and they’ve got a great history in the sport.

“It’s quite a compact track and it’s tight and twisty in the middle section. I remember it being quite bumpy too. It’s much more undulating than it looks on television and you really notice that when you walk the track.

“There is a steep drop through the first chicane and then at the end of the lap there is a big climb from the final corner onto the straight. It makes things more interesting in the car and I quite like those aspects of the lap.

“It’s not been a good track to me in the two times I’ve been there, but I think we’ve got a good opportunity to put things right this year. It’s a close fight in the Constructors’ Championship so we have plenty at stake.”

Sergio Perez

“When you arrive in Brazil, you know the season is nearing the end. It’s the time of the year when it’s getting close in the championship. We still have a chance to fight for fifth, so adding more points this weekend is very important.

“I like being in Brazil and in some ways it reminds me of Mexico. The people are very warm and relaxed, and they love F1 just as much as the Mexican fans. They are always having a party in the grandstands.

“The start of the lap is good fun through the Senna ‘S’ and I think it’s probably the best place to try and overtake during the race. At the end of a long straight you can be very late on the brakes and dive down the inside.

“The circuit is quite short and it reminds me of a karting track. Even though it looks quite simple, it’s not easy to get the perfect lap. You need to be really precise with placing the car and to find the lap time you need to use the kerbs.

“The weather can be a major factor too. It rains quite often and clouds can develop quickly in the area. That can mix things up, as it did in 2016.”

Otmar Szafnauer - Team Principal

“Brazil presents us with another good opportunity to score points. The car has been working well across a range of different tracks and I’m confident we can be just as competitive this weekend. It’s hard to judge our performance at the last race in the USA because it was compromised by various factors, but there’s no doubt we didn’t show our true potential

“Overall, as we near the end of the season, I can say that I am pleased with our performance since the summer break. We’ve worked hard to improve the car and scored points in all but one of the last seven races.  The point we scored in America helped move us up to sixth place in the championship and mathematically we can still aim for fifth. There’s lots at stake and lots to fight for, so we need to maximise the opportunities this weekend.”

Preview Provided By: Racing Point F1 Team. 

Scuderia Ferrari: 2019 Brazilian GP Preview.

PHOTO CREDIT: Scuderia Ferrari

Sunday’s race will be the 47th Brazilian Grand Prix. It first appeared on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar in 1973 and has been a permanent fixture ever since. It has been held at just two circuits, Jacarepaguà and its current home, Interlagos. Scuderia Ferrari has won this race eleven times.

Lauda after the Brazilians. The first three editions were run at Interlagos, on a track that was almost 8 kilometres in length and they were all won by Brazilians: Emerson Fittipaldi won the first two with the third going to Carlos Pace, after whom the circuit is named. It fell to Ferrari and Niki Lauda to break the home grown stranglehold in 1976, with the first of a hat trick of wins for the Scuderia in this race. The following year, victory went to Argentina’s Carlos Reutemann, who to this day considers that race in 1977 as one of the toughest of his career, given the suffocating heat that hung over the circuit that day in the Sao Paulo suburb of Interlagos.

In Rio. Reutemann’s 1978 win came at the new circuit built just outside Rio de Janeiro, called Jacarepaguà, the name meaning “crocodile swamp”. Interlagos was undergoing a major overhaul in time for the 1979 race. However, the track was still dangerous and very bumpy and after the 1980 race, the Grand Prix moved back to Jacarepaguà up to 1989, the year in which Nigel Mansell won for Ferrari. The result was also a moment of historic importance, as it was the first time a Formula 1 race was won by a car, the F1-89, fitted with a semi-automatic gearbox with paddles on the steering wheel. It was the first race of the season and the perfect debut with Ferrari for Mansell.

Return to Interlagos. In the meantime, Interlagos was completely rebuilt, with the track length reduced by almost half, from 7.8 kms to 4.3. The pit complex was rebuilt and safety standards were greatly improved. Scuderia Ferrari kicked off proceedings in fine style, with Alain Prost winning in the F1-90 on what was home turf for his main title rival, Ayrton Senna, the unforgettable star who was a hero for many drivers, including Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc. At that time, Senna had never managed to win his home race, but he went on to do so in 1991 and 1993.

The Schumacher era. Scuderia Ferrari won again in 2000, with Michael Schumacher, the dominant force in those days and he did it again two years later in a race featuring an early thrilling duel between the German and his then rival Juan Pablo Montoya. Michael last drove a Ferrari at Interlagos in 2006. In the race, he got a puncture and then charged back up the order, making up almost a lap on team-mate Felipe Massa, who went on to win, but Michael stole the show by finishing fourth.

The title fights. The next two years produced absolutely thrilling races, which had the crowd on the edge of their seats, primarily because the Drivers’ title was decided in each case. In 2007, Kimi Raikkonen arrived at Interlagos lying third in the classification, but left with the title in his pocket. Just about everything happened that afternoon: championship leader Lewis Hamilton had a problem that meant he was a lap down, while Kimi and Massa produced perfect team-work for the Finn to win the race and the championship. The following year, Felipe was in the running for the title on home turf, with Hamilton once again the rival. Massa was way out in front, but Hamilton was still in a good enough position to take the crown. In the closing stages, it began to rain and Hamilton dropped down to sixth. Felipe won the race and for just over 30 seconds, he was world champion. However, on the very last corner of the very last lap, Hamilton managed to pass Timo Glock in the Toyota to take the fifth place that was enough to win the title by a single point. Scuderia Ferrari was at least able to celebrate winning the Constructors’ championship. Brazil was also the scene of the 2012 title decider, when Sebastian Vettel, then with Red Bull was up against Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari. Vettel spun shortly after the start and was hit by Bruno Senna in the Williams. However, his car was only slightly damaged and the German was able to fight his way back up the order into a position good enough to be champion, even though the Spaniard finished second.

Number 11. Scuderia Ferrari’s most recent win in the Brazilian Grand Prix came in 2017, courtesy of Sebastian Vettel who had to fight hard against Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes. Last year, the German finished sixth, a few seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc in the Sauber-Ferrari.

90 Years. This weekend, Saturday to be precise, marks the 90th anniversary of the start of Scuderia Ferrari. On 16th November 1929, the team received the necessary legal authorisation to operate. The first race for the brand new team was the 1930 Mille Miglia. To celebrate this landmark along with its fans, Scuderia Ferrari is launching various initiatives on its social networks and web platforms.

FERRARI STATS BRAZILIAN GP
GP contested 46
Debut 1973 (Arturo Merzario 4th; Jacky Ickx 5th)
Wins 11 (23,91%)
Pole positions 7 (15,21%)
Fastest laps 8 (17,39%)
Podiums 31 (67,39%)

Sebastian Vettel 

“Racing in Brazil, in Sao Paulo, I think in a nutshell, anything can happen. I don’t know why, but there is something about this place and this circuit. Every year, something crazy happens and, if it doesn’t you can be sure it will the following year.

This is another track that has suited us well in the past and treated us well over the last couple of years. I remember we had good pace there and Kimi was on the podium last year, while two years ago we won the race. I think overall it’s been a good hunting ground for us and hopefully it will be like that again this weekend.

Certainly, in terms of atmosphere, it’s very special. Brazilians are one of the loudest crowds on the calendar: you can actually hear them when you are in the car and it feels as though they are in the cockpit with you.”

Charles Leclerc

“Not only are the people in Brazil extremely passionate about our sport, but it was also the home of Ayrton Senna, who is the driver I have probably most looked up to. He was very talented, just special, and this GP will always remind us of his legacy. The circuit is really exciting to drive on. It’s a short lap but still features lots of different corner combinations paired with straights. I think the layout has changed quite a bit over the past decades until it reached its current shape. When I was younger, I actually always used to select it on my Playstation, so I’ve always been very fond of it!

The weather in Sao Paulo can be changeable, which means that the conditions on track can vary from day to day and pose unexpected challenges to all teams, mixing things up.”

Mattia Binotto Team Principal

“We come to the penultimate round of the season after a frustrating race in Austin, where we were unable to deliver the results we felt we could have done. On Saturday, we missed out on taking a historic seventh consecutive pole by just one hundredth of a second with Sebastian, although we can take comfort from the fact it showed the raw performance was there.

On Sunday, Charles’ pace in the first stint was poor although his car performance level was back to normal after the first pit stop. So we will put all this behind us now and look ahead to Brazil and a fresh start.

Charles will get a new Power Unit there, as his was damaged on Saturday in Austin, which meant he had to use a previously used and less powerful version for the rest of the weekend.

Fitting a new PU means taking a grid-penalty in Sao Paulo, but we should be back to our normal performance level and show some fighting spirit to finish the season on a high note.
That will be important in order to confirm we are making progress with our car and to take some of that momentum into the winter work. I know that our drivers and the whole team are fully focused on that.”

Preview Provided By: Scuderia Ferrari

McLaren Racing: 2019 Brazilian GP Preview.

Interlagos stages the Brazilian Grand Prix for the 37th time this year. The track layout has changed since the inaugural race in 1973, but the passion of the fans and the significance of the race as the only Grand Prix in South America continues unaltered.

The circuit was built 80 years ago on marshland unsuitable for housing. At first it was incredibly fast, with long, banked corners dominating the layout. The track was then shortened and made safer ahead of the race in 1990, since when it has been a regular feature on the Formula 1 calendar.

There are a couple of unique aspects to the track. At 800m above sea level, it’s the second-highest track on the F1 calendar, making it demanding for power units and brakes, and many of the corners are cambered, which makes it easy for drivers to make mistakes.

Carlos Sainz

“Interlagos is a great circuit and certainly a fun place to go racing. The fans are always very passionate, and the history of the event speaks for itself.

“We head to Brazil seeking to extract the maximum from our car and score more points on the board. The season is not over yet, with two more races to go, and there are still many points to fight for. Confirming our fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship is the target and I'll push hard until the end for that sixth place in the Drivers’ Championship, despite the difficulty of the task!”

Lando Norris 

“I can’t wait to go racing in Brazil. It’s been the scene of some awesome races in the past, and I’m hoping for a good race of my own on Sunday. FP1 last year gave me the opportunity to learn the track, but I’ve been working hard in the simulator to make sure I can maximize performance as soon as we get started on Friday.

“There’s still work to be done and we’ll be pushing hard in every session to see how close we can get to the top teams. They’re still a long way off and our nearest rivals are very close but I’m looking forward to some good racing."

Andreas Seidl - Team Principal

“After a weekend away from racing, it’s good to be heading back to the track for what we hope will be an exciting Grand Prix. As we come to the close of the season, our focus as a race team is on securing the fourth-place Constructors’ spot, before fully switching our attention to 2020.

“We gathered a lot of information in Mexico and the US, which has been important in our preparation for Brazil. Interlagos is another high-altitude track, and although it's not as extreme as Mexico City, we still must ensure we’re doing all we can to adjust the car to these conditions and the complex track layout.”

Preview Provided By: McLaren Racing

Renault F1 Team: 2019 Brazilian GP Preview.

Nico Hülkenberg

"I’d say Brazil is one of my favourite races on the calendar. I like the vibe about São Paulo as it’s quite crazy and loud. The fans love their motorsport, especially Formula 1, the circuit is legendary, and it all adds up to create a very special Grand Prix weekend. I’ve had some cool memories in Brazil. The pole position in 2010 was pretty special. That was a fun session where everything clicked, and we managed a perfect lap in difficult conditions and it’s something I’ll always remember. It was good to be back in the points across both races [Mexico and US], but we always want more. We recovered well in Austin and the second-half of the race, especially the final ten or so laps, were fun and we deserved our points. We have to target more in Brazil and pushing closer to sixth-seventh spots to take home even more points."

Why do you like the Brazilian Grand Prix?
I’d say Brazil is one of my favourite races on the calendar. I like the vibe about São Paulo as it’s quite crazy and loud. The fans love their motorsport, especially Formula 1, the circuit is legendary, and it all adds up to create a very special Grand Prix weekend. Interlagos has so much history. You feel all the emotions on a lap there.

How tricky is Interlagos to drive? 
It’s a short lap, but it’s actually very tricky with lots of challenges. It flows anticlockwise, it’s busy and quite physical. In places it’s bumpy, but it’s all about confidence. The middle sector is twisty but where you can make up some time.

What stands out from your previous experiences at this race?
I’ve had some cool memories in Brazil. The pole position in 2010 was pretty special. That was a fun session where everything clicked, and we managed a perfect lap in difficult conditions and it’s something I’ll always remember. I led the race in 2012 but was unlucky to miss out on a top result.

What’s the mindset heading into the weekend?
It was good to be back in the points across both races, but we always want more. We recovered well in Austin and the second-half of the race, especially the final ten or so laps, were fun and we deserved our points. We have to target more in Brazil and pushing closer to sixth-seventh spots to take home even more points.

Daniel Ricciardo

"I really like the atmosphere in Brazil. It’s a cool one as the locals love racing, and they really embrace it when it comes to their town. There’s a Samba-like, carnival feel to the place and I like the energy that brings. The drivers’ parade on Sunday is one of the loudest of the season and gets you pumped for the race. Austin was a fun race with some good points in the bag for the team. We secured double points across both Mexico and the United States, which was really positive after a few races where we missed out. It’s important to keep the consistency going and Brazil is our next opportunity. Three points-scoring finishes in a row would be sweet, so it’ll be all focus on achieving that when we hit the track on Friday. Viva Brazil!"

What’s there to say about Brazil?
I really like the atmosphere in Brazil. It’s a cool one as the locals love racing, and they really embrace it when it comes to their town. There’s a Samba-like, carnival feel to the place and I like the energy that brings. The drivers’ parade on Sunday is one of the loudest of the season and gets you pumped for the race.

What’s the circuit like?
Interlagos is a short circuit without many high-speed corners. It’s very technical and you need to find a good rhythm to do well there. Overtaking can be difficult, but I’ve come through the field a couple of times there in the past, so it is possible to gain places. The weather is usually interesting too. It can play a big part and you have to be ready for all conditions.

How pleasing was it to score back-to-back points?
Austin was a fun race with some good points in the bag for the team. We secured double points across both Mexico and the United States, which was really positive after a few races where we missed out. It’s important to keep the consistency going and Brazil is our next opportunity. Three points-scoring finishes in a row would be sweet, so it’ll be all focus on achieving that when we hit the track on Friday. Viva Brazil!

Preview Provided By: Renault F1 Team

Haas F1 Team: 2019 Brazilian GP Preview.

The 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship still has two races remaining and the 2020 season won’t officially begin until March 15 with the Australian Grand Prix, yet it’s the 2021 season that has the industry talking, as a new set of regulations will bring wholesale changes to the look and feel of the sport.

There will be sweeping bodywork, an uncomplicated front wing, a bigger rear wing, increased underbody aerodynamics, wheel-wake control devices, simplified suspension and low-profile tires on 18-inch rims. It’s all in an effort to give drivers more than just the opportunity to overtake, but to really race. Augmenting the new car is a budget restriction, where a $175 million cost cap aims to rein in spending to cut the gap between the top teams and the midfield. It is a massive undertaking, hence the reason why teams must think and act on 2021 when there’s still racing to be had in 2019. 

And the next race on the Formula One calendar is the Brazilian Grand Prix Sunday at Autódromo José Carlos Pace in the Interlagos neighborhood of São Paulo. It is the series’ penultimate race, and despite Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton having claimed the season title last week in the United States Grand Prix, the Brazilian Grand Prix remains filled with intensity, as the undulating course in Brazil’s largest city proves a challenge for drivers and their teams.

It is run anticlockwise and consists of a twisty infield portion between turns six and 12, with three long straights between turns three and four, turns five and six, and off turn 14 down the front stretch before the beginning of the Senna “S” in turn one, named after three-time Formula One champion Ayrton Senna, who was born in São Paulo.

As teams look to get a grip on the asphalt of the 4.309-kilometer (2.677-mile), 15-turn Interlagos layout, they’re also looking to get a grip on Formula One’s new technical regulations for 2021. After all, the future is now.

Guenther Steiner - Team Principal

While you’re finishing the 2019 season and simultaneously preparing for the 2020 season, the new technical regulations for 2021 have finally been announced. The 2021 cars will look different and perform different. What is your take on the 2021 car’s aesthetics and its expected performance?
“The car – it’s a little bit different, and it is a change. These are the regulations. We live with them and try to get the best out of it. We’ll try to achieve what the new regulations want to achieve, with more overtaking and a closing of the field.”

Ground effects return to Formula One cars in 2021 after a nearly 40-year absence. The point of ground effects is to lessen the need/impact of wings on racecars to lessen the amount of dirty air. This means all new bodywork and no more complex bargeboards and a simplified front wing and a rear wing with nearly no endplates. As such, where does development happen on the 2021 car? Relatedly, how important does the floor now become to the performance of the 2021 car? 
“The development, whatever the regulations, is always in aerodynamics. That’s the main thing to develop. There is still enough freedom where we can develop areas of the car to make them different from each other. We’ll try to get a little bit more performance out than our competitors. The floor is always one of the most important things on a Formula One car. It’s always been important and will continue to be, so not a lot will change in that respect. You’re always working to get everything out of the car from wherever you can.”   

Do these rules still allow Formula One teams to be Formula One teams, meaning they can be creative and come up with their own designs that differ from their competition?
“Yes. In the end, that was achieved. It was the biggest argument between FIA, FOM (Formula One Management) and the teams. The teams didn’t want to have a single-make car or be boxed in too much. We didn’t want to end up with a GP1 series. In the end, FOM opened up the creativity by opening up the regulations. So, hopefully, we can achieve it.”

The potential downside to the 2021 rules package is that the cars get 25 kilograms heavier, going from 743 kilograms to 768 kilograms. Does this mean that while the on-track action will theoretically be closer, will the speeds be slower than they are now, or will teams eventually refine their racecars enough to where they are faster than the car of today?
“Nobody wants heavier cars in racing in general, and even more so in Formula One. It doesn’t make the cars look as smooth when they ride around. With all the technology and the safety aspects and the hybrid technology, you cannot do without it. I don’t think the 25 kilos will be the biggest factor in making the cars slower – it’s more the aerodynamics. Maybe at the beginning we are not where we want to be, but I’m pretty sure we’ll end up with the cars back to being as fast as they are now. A lot depends on the tires, as well.”

Beyond all of these technical regulations, is the best change to level the playing field in 2021 the mandate of a $175 million cost cap? How does a cost cap help Haas F1 Team, an organization that has always been incredibly efficient with its dollars and operates well under this cost cap?
“I think in the beginning the cost cap – how it’s defined now – will close the gap, but it will not take the gap away. We are far from spending $175 million at the moment, and the big teams are well over that. The big teams need to come down, and they will get down to $175 million, but most of the other teams are well within that figure. Hopefully, it closes the gap to start off, then we’ll see. Maybe there’s a second step in the cost cap.”

Romain Grosjean

While you’re finishing the 2019 season and simultaneously preparing for the 2020 season, the new technical regulations for 2021 have finally been announced. The 2021 cars will look different and perform different. What is your take on the 2021 car’s aesthetics and its expected performance?
“I think they look cool. I think they look futuristic without being away from what Formula One has been known for as a racecar. I’m very happy with the way they look. Performance-wise, we’ll need to wait and see what the track brings, and if it’s got all the desired effects. Generally, I’m pleased with what I’ve seen so far.”

All of these changes should allow a trailing car to keep roughly 85 percent of its downforce compared to the 45 percent of downforce a trailing car gets with the current regulations. Can you explain how this added downforce will allow you more of an opportunity to attack and, ultimately, pass the car in front of you?
“At the moment, every time you get behind a car you lose a lot of downforce, then you slide. It’s something you expect, but then the surface of the tires overheat and you completely lose grip. You can’t attack. If we don’t lose so much downforce then, hopefully, the tires won’t overheat as much, and therefore we’ll be able to stay closer and get more passing. That’s the idea and it should be OK.”

The potential downside to the 2021 rules package is that the cars get 25 kilograms heavier, going from 743 kilograms to 768 kilograms. Does this mean that while the on-track action will theoretically be closer, will the speeds be slower than they are now, or will teams eventually refine their racecars enough to where they are faster than the car of today?
“Formula One cars are the fastest on Earth, so I think if we lose a couple of seconds a lap, but for better racing, I don’t think that’s the end of the world. We’ve got to see the big picture here.” 

Interlagos appears to be a very physical track, and heat often plays a role in the performance of the car and the driver. Considering these variables, how do you attack the track?
“São Paulo is one of my favorite tracks on the calendar. I think it’s really good and I’m very much looking forward to going there. It’s an anti-clockwise layout, so it does affect your neck, especially on Friday, but the body adapts very quickly. I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

Kevin Magnussen

While you’re finishing the 2019 season and simultaneously preparing for the 2020 season, the new technical regulations for 2021 have finally been announced. The 2021 cars will look different and perform different. What is your take on the 2021 car’s aesthetics and its expected performance?

“I think it’s pretty exciting to see the new regulations and the new cars for 2021. As is the case with every new Formula One regulation and with new-look cars, it’ll take a little time to get used to, then I think we’ll start loving the new looks. My initial feeling is good. The look is pretty good. The most important thing is that the racing gets closer and better, which I think there’s a good chance it might be.”

All of these changes should allow a trailing car to keep roughly 85 percent of its downforce compared to the 45 percent of downforce a trailing car gets with the current regulations. Can you explain how this added downforce will allow you more of an opportunity to attack and, ultimately, pass the car in front of you?
“If the wake of the car in front is less, the disturbed air is less, then you’ll be able to follow closer and you’ll get a better chance of overtaking. That’s good and, hopefully, it’ll improve enough so that we don’t need DRS (Drag Reduction System). Hopefully, the quality of the passes will become better, as well. It’s all good having lots of passing, but if it’s all done with DRS on a straight line, it’s not really that exciting. I’d rather see the same amount of passing, or less, but better quality racing. That’s the point – to get more exciting racing.”

The potential downside to the 2021 rules package is that the cars get 25 kilograms heavier, going from 743 kilograms to 768 kilograms. Does this mean that while the on-track action will theoretically be closer, will the speeds be slower than they are now, or will teams eventually refine their racecars enough to where they are faster than the car of today?
“I think increasing the weight of the car is not a positive, but I guess it must have been inevitable, otherwise they wouldn’t have done it. I do think the teams will overcome it over time. Probably the first couple of years, the cars will be a bit slower – if not quite a bit slower – then they’ll probably get close to where they are now at some point. Teams always find more and more performance. Hopefully, the cars will be very quick again. We all like to go fast and have a lot of grip. We want to drive the fastest cars on the planet.” 

Interlagos appears to be a very physical track, and heat often plays a role in the performance of the car and the driver. Considering these variables, how do you attack the track?
“Interlagos is a great track. It’s a little bit like a go-kart track. It’s all in a small area without long stretches between corners. I’m looking forward to going there and hopefully getting a good result.”

Preview Provided By - Haas F1 Team

Williams Racing: 2019 Brazilian GP Preview.

It’s time for the penultimate round of the 2019 Formula One World Championship, the Brazilian Grand Prix. Autódromo José Carlos Pace, more commonly referred to as Interlagos, provides drivers and engineers with many challenges, not least because the track runs in an anti-clockwise direction and is at high altitude, which makes it tough on power units. The carnival atmosphere in Brazil provides a brilliant backdrop to the race weekend and is a spectacle to see. For the final time this year, Nicholas Latifi will drive during the FP1 session, this time in Robert Kubica’s car.

Dave Robson, Senior Race Engineer

As the 2019 season begins to draw to a close, we make our annual trip to Sao Paulo for the penultimate event of the year. The Interlagos track offers a fascinating mix of corners and elevation change all set in an amphitheatre some 750m above sea level.

The weather often plays a big part in Sao Paulo with heavy rain or very high track temperatures equally likely in November. The current forecast is for relatively benign conditions, but this can change very quickly.

Pirelli have provided their hardest compound range for this event, a combination previously seen in Japan and Belgium, and this should provide a range of viable strategies for the race.

Nicholas will drive Robert’s car in FP1 at this event for his final free practice outing of the season. We look forward to Nicholas’s help in setting up the car for this demanding circuit. In addition to the normal qualifying and race preparation, we will also look at several test items as we continue our build-up to the 2020 season.

Robert Kubica

The next Grand Prix is in Brazil, and it’s a track that I know pretty well. The layout of Interlagos is unique, it runs anti-clockwise and has a long straight uphill which makes it quite challenging. Overall, it should be good fun to drive.

George Russell

The 2017 race weekend here in Brazil was the first one I took part in, driving in FP1, so I have fond memories of the place. It is a really great circuit with a lot of character, and one that I am looking forward to driving again.

Nicholas Latifi

I am excited to get another opportunity to jump back in the car in Brazil. It will be my third FP1 in a row, in such a short period of time, so that’s good for the rhythm. I drove in FP1 there last year, so I know the track and that will help me get up to speed. It is a unique circuit, and an older style compared to the more modern venues. It is smaller, tighter, but the track has a lot of character and has been on the calendar for a while. I’m looking forward to getting out there and experiencing it once again.

Preview Provided By: Williams Racing

Scuderia Toro Rosso: 2019 Brazilian GP Preview.

Pierre Gasly

“This will be my third time racing at Interlagos and so far I've not finished in the points, so that is the first target for the weekend. Brazil has an iconic role in Formula 1 and when I was little and even today, my idol is Ayrton Senna. So, going to Brazil is always great as there is such a culture of Formula 1 in this country.

“The track itself is actually quite nice, even if it's short. It features a lot of technically demanding corners and it can be quite a crazy weekend, as we have seen many times in the past because the weather can make life very unpredictable. That makes it especially exciting. This is one of only two more opportunities to go racing this year, so of course I am looking forward to it very much. The track runs anti-clockwise and although we all do a lot of training these days, it is one of the toughest circuits in terms of putting a strain on your neck because none of the straights are actually straight! You are always feeling G-forces and during the race it gets quite physical, especially in long corners like 3, 4 and 5 where it never stops turning. Now we are going much faster than we have ever gone before in Formula 1 so the minimum G force is much higher than in the past, which makes it more challenging… but we are well prepared. The facilities are a bit more basic than at some of the more modern circuits, but this is part of what gives Interlagos its character and it would feel strange if they changed it. Once you get on track, you feel a bit like you're in an arena, which is a nice feeling. If we get a good result, my trainer will let me have a couple of caipirinhas on Sunday, so that's an extra incentive to do well!“

Daniil Kvyat

“I like coming to Brazil as it is now another event that I can consider as a sort of home race because my partner is Brazilian. After a quick stop in Japan for the Honda Thanks Day, I came straight to Brazil and spent some time with the family, I'm hoping to stay on for a few days after the race as well. Brazilians are very easy going, chilled, the weather is generally nice and there's plenty of good food and the people seem to enjoy life. My Portuguese is improving and I understand quite a bit, as I speak Spanish.

“As for Interlagos, it's a cool old-school track, but wide enough to allow for some overtaking. There are some incredible corners such as the banked Turn 1 which is much steeper than it looks on television. It's a good overtaking opportunity and usually, there is plenty of exciting action there. The middle section is more twisty, but with a couple of high-speed corners as well. Then there's the short straight where you can follow other cars and try and pass, although in a modern Formula 1 car, no section of this track is really a straight and you are always turning. Even with all the training we do, you feel the lateral forces on your neck here with the track running anti-clockwise. It's not a problem but it is challenging. The weather can also play its part and mix things up a bit and it can go either way, maybe providing an opportunity or just being an extra risk to deal with. At the last two rounds, I crossed the finish line in the top ten, but then lost the points on a technicality, so I am very keen to get a good result for myself and the team this weekend. It's crazy that we now have just two more races this year. The season has been a long one, but it's gone by very fast."

Preview Provided By Scuderia Toro Rosso

Mercedes-AMG Petronas: 2019 Brazilian GP Preview.

Toto Wolff Talks Brazil

 Last week we had the chance to celebrate the championships with everyone at Brixworth and Brackley - the 1,500 men and women that form this amazing team and made this extraordinary success possible. It is always a special moment and this year's was particularly special as our sixth consecutive double sets a new benchmark in our sport. But despite this record-breaking achievement, I still feel a lot of hunger and desire for more achievements. There's no sense of complacency, everybody is still determined to keep on improving. It's an inspiring group of people that fully lives up to the Mercedes aspiration of being the best.

We have two races to go in the 2019 season and we want to end this season on a high. The next stop takes us to Brazil which brings back fond memories from last year when we were not only able to win the race but also secure the constructors' championship at Interlagos. It's a very short track which makes qualifying particularly challenging as the margins are very small. We have generally not had the fastest car on Saturdays since the summer break, but we were able to take pole in Austin and will try to fight for a front row start again at São Paulo.

Brazil will also be the first race since 2013 that I won't attend. With both championships secured, it gives me more time in Europe to focus on other open topics. It's great to be able to do this and to know that the team will represent the three-pointed star in the best way possible both on and off the track.

2019 Brazilian Grand Prix: Fact File

• The Autódromo José Carlos Pace is the third-shortest circuit on the F1 calendar, with a lap length of just 4.309 km - only Monaco and Mexico are shorter.
• Interlagos also has the second-quickest lap time of the entire season. The current race lap record is 1:10.540 (Valtteri in 2018), the absolute lap record is 1:07.281 (Lewis in Q3 in 2018). Only a lap at Spielberg in Austria takes less time to complete.
• The first and third sectors have over 75% of lap time at full throttle, but the middle sector has less than 50%. From the exit of Turn 12 until the braking zone for Turn 1, there are 1.2 kilometres of driving at full throttle and an elevation change of 40 metres to the highest point on the track.
• The first and third sectors require a low-drag car, but the middle sector is fastest on maximum downforce. In the past, this compromise meant you would see a range of downforce levels on cars at Interlagos. But since the second DRS zone was added, more teams bias towards higher downforce owing to the lap-time benefit in Qualifying.
• The Interlagos circuit is located over 800m above sea level, which is the second-highest of the season - but the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is much higher at over 2,200m.
• Braking for Turn 1 is unusual because the corner is heavily banked towards the inside. This often causes front locking as the track drops away and unloads the front-left wheel. But it's one of the few corners where you can lock up and not lose any lap time - with so little load on the tyre, locking doesn't usually result in a flat-spot.
• The brakes are not used heavily at Interlagos, with only five braking events registering over 2G and one heavy braking event (experiencing over 4G for more than 0.4s).
• One of the engineering challenges at the track is to keep the left-hand front tyre in the working temperature window, because from the exit of Turn 10 until the entry to Turn 6 (3.5km in distance) it does very little work and thus cools down quickly.
• Brazil is one of the easier tracks to overtake on, especially since the second DRS zone was added, but managing battery levels for the defending car can be difficult because there is only one big braking zone in which to recover energy between the two longest straights.
• The weather can be varied and volatile for the race weekend. It's not uncommon for track temperatures to shift 30°C from practice to the race, which makes it very difficult to predict what the tyres are going to do.
• Wet weather can be especially challenging in Brazil. Despite channels being cut into the tarmac to improve drainage, there are a number of places where rivers tend to run across the track when it's raining heavily.

Preview Provided By Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport

Red Bull Racing: 2019 Brazilian GP Preview.

Alex Albon 

“Sao Paolo looks very cool and it’s a driver's track which takes you back to the old school of racing which I enjoy. Interlagos has a lot of history and it’s one of the circuits I’ve been looking forward to most this year to drive. Obviously, I’ve never been before but from what I understand the weather is always going to be tricky there which always makes for an exciting weekend.”

Max Verstappen 

“Interlagos is a short track but it’s good and a lot of fun to drive. It has a good combination of corners and it’s also anti-clockwise so it’s a bit heavier on the neck. Qualifying is pretty important there as overtaking is not so easy. The track is also quite hard on tyres so you need to look after them throughout the race. As we saw in 2016, crazy weather can happen too! Brazil has a lot of passionate fans who live and breathe F1 so it’s always great to see that and it makes for a great atmosphere.” 

Preview Provided by Red Bull Racing

Timmy Hansen crowned World RX champion, while Gronholm claims race win in Cape Town.

PHOTO CREDIT: Slipstream SA/Junaid Samodien

Timmy Hansen was crowned 2019 FIA World Rallycross Champion after a dramatic season finale in South Africa, while Niclas Gronholm claimed his second win of the season. 

Hansen started on the front row for the title-decider having won semi-final two, with Andreas Bakkerud alongside. The Norwegian had the best start compared to Hansen and went around the outside and later shut the door on the Swede into turn one. With eight points available for victory in the final and five points for second place, Bakkerud could have been crowned champion, but it was not to be for the Norwegian. 

Drama soon followed when Bakkerud slid wide at turn six on lap one, and Timmy Hansen slid alongside the Norweigan. The two made contact and Bakkerud bounced off the concrete barrier and into Hansen, who spun around. The RX Cartel driver was also facing the wall on the outside, while Kevin Hansen spun at turn six and ended up on the inside of the track seeing him drop to the tail end of the field.  

While Bakkerud was facing the wrong way, Niclas Gronholm claimed the lead and Bakkerud rejoined in second. 

Timmy Hansen later recovered to fourth-place after Scheider had technical issues, and that was enough to see the Swede to go level on points with Andreas Bakkerud meaning a countback was required and after winning four events this season, Timmy was crowned FIA World Rallycross Champion.

Gronholm never looked back after claiming the lead and took his joker lap at ease on lap five and claimed his second event win of the season. 

"Its been quite good. No big issues with the car and I could enjoy my driving," Gronholm said. "It's been trouble-free and maybe I have been operating under the radar or maybe they have not focussed on beating me and maybe they just focused on scoring as many points as possible for the championship. It is nice to get a proper win after coming close on many occasions."

"Overall, I am really happy with how the car has been feeling this season and how big of a step our team has taken. There is a lot of effort going into this and they have been working their butts off to give us a good car, and they have really done a good job all season long."

Gronholm leads Bakkerud in the World RX final.

 "From the driving side of things, I have taken a step forward and I have been able to do better launches and being a bit more consistent," he adds. "So, it's a mix of many things that have improved our pace."

As the six cars arrived at the podium, Andreas Bakkerud stepped out of his car and went straight to an FIA delegate to point out damage on Timmy Hansen's Peugeot 208 Supercar. An investigation was launched, but after two long hours, the FIA decided that 'no further action' will be taken.

"I know Andreas [Bakkerud] is not happy about the overtake and I wouldn't be happy either if I make a mistake like that from the lead and I went on the inside and in the end, it was me that came out worse," Timmy Hansen said. "My father [Spotter] came onto the radio and told me that I need to make up one place to be champion and I pushed harder than I have ever before. There was a huge gap to Timo [Scheider] obviously he had some problem and I crossed the line in fourth."

"It is not the dream way to end the championship. This season has been the best in my entire career despite two races not going according to plan for me. We have taken four race wins and coming from nowhere at the start of the year, and making it to the grid was a huge achievement. This is what we dreamt of coming into the year. It feels amazing." 

An unhappy Bakkerud was quick to point out that he won the battle this weekend having had the best start in the final.

"I just want to say a huge thank you to Monster Energy RX Cartel for being a great team supporting me throughout the whole year and at the end of the day, I am proud of myself for finding the best in me," he said. "I feel that I won the battle this weekend after having the fastest reaction by far in the final." 

"Having everything in my pocket and unfortunately...  I won't go any further. It was a strong event."

RESULTS OF FINAL:
1. Niclas GRÖNHOLM
2. Andreas BAKKERUD
3. Timur TIMERZYANOV
4. Timmy HANSEN
5. Kevin HANSEN
6. Timo SCHEIDER

Written By: Junaid Samodien