Verstappen to start from the back of the grid

The Porsche race at Interlagos was red-flagged after a crash at Turn 5 damaged the barrier.

Ferrari are considering a complete power unit change, which would mean Lewis Hamilton starting from the back of the grid and potentially also missing qualifying.

As a reminder, the weather also wreaked havoc at Interlagos in 2024, with the challenging conditions contributing to a host of driver errors. The circuit became a scrapyard.

The weather at Interlagos looks utterly miserable at the moment. If conditions remain like this in an hour and a half, the start of qualifying may have to be delayed.

Liberty Media and the promoters at Interlagos have announced a new five-year deal. With the existing contract due to run until 2030, the extension means the event will remain on the calendar until at least 2035, which is excellent news.

Lewis Hamilton suffers a mechanical failure in third practice.

Like a proud dad, Charles Leclerc showed his colleagues in the garage photos of little Bianca.

To ensure taller Formula 1 drivers are not disadvantaged, the rules require all drivers to weigh at least 80 kilograms (including their race suit, helmet and seat). If they weigh less, they must carry additional ballast in the cockpit.

What does this ballast look like? A look inside Liam Lawson’s car reveals two ballast weights beneath the seat. The first weighs exactly four kilograms, the second 1.125 kilograms.

It is worth noting that this rule makes the sport fairer than it was in the past, but nothing is perfect. Using additional ballast does, after all, lower the car’s centre of gravity, bringing a certain advantage.

Kimi Antonelli has copied Lewis Hamilton’s start technique. Hamilton is known for holding the gearshift paddle in place with his left hand at the start to avoid accidentally downshifting while operating the clutch.

English comedian Jimmy Carr was asked during one of his shows what he thought of new world champion Kimi Antonelli. “I don’t like it, I don’t like it one bit. I don’t like it because he’s Italian and he won the F1 championship in a Mercedes. When the Italians and the Germans come together, bad things happen.”