Goin' up, goin' down: 2021 Brazilian GP

F1

F1 pulsed to the samba beat (or was it Christian Horner's nervously tapping right foot?) on its return to Interlagos this weekend

lead braaaazil

Just can't beat that Brazilian GP atmosphere

Grand Prix Photo

Well it was the Brazilian Grand Prix which delivered so much even DHL would have struggled to handle it – Max faffing about with rear wings and being fined the F1 driver equivalent of a bus ticket for it, Gio blanking his own team and Haas still managing to find something to laugh about.

Scroll vertically what was going up and down at the 2021 Brazilian GP.

 

Going up

 

Michael Sassy and friends

https://twitter.com/theavandam/status/1459959672606183425

The sass intensified in Brazil, with Race Director Michael Masi handing out the judgements, and Max Verstappen giving it back in equal measure.

“Say hi,” sassed the Red Bull driver back over the radio.

 

Bending the rules

Verstappen recently said he didn’t want to take part in Netflix Drive to Survive due to the “drama” the series apparently concocted, but he probably didn’t need to, creating enough of his own after ‘tampering’ with Hamilton’s rear wing.

The penalty? $50,000 – looking at how much the Dutchman earns for driving round in circles, that’s equivalent to a $60 for someone on $30,000 a year.

 

Endless optimism

Perez drs

Perez: still looking for that DRS

Red Bull

“Get Max to give me the DRS” said Perez. Asking your title contender team-mate to slow down – good one Checo.

 

Haas social media team

Well done to the worst team for at least having a sense of humour.

 

Turning up the wick

MONACO, MONACO: Minardi-Ford driver Esteban Tuero of Argentina drives his car on the pitlane, 21 May in the pits during the first free practice session of the 56th formula one Grand Prix of Monaco scheduled 24 May. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) (Photo credit should read ERIC CABANIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Mercedes going for that rubbish 1990s F1 reliability vibe – full marks for spotting Merc team predecessor in background

ERIC CABANIS/AFP via Getty Images

Mercedes are apparently giving it everything, throwing caution to the reliability wind by allowing Hamilton to push his car to its limits and risking an engine failure a la Shinji Nakano at Monza 1998.

 

Going down

 

Gravel traps, where art thou?

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 14: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda leads Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W12 during the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 14, 2021 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

“C’mon Lewis, let me show you this really cool bit of run-off, it’s just over here!”

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

“Get in there Lewis” Max said, as he guided him towards the run-off at Turn 4. If said area off track had been gravelled like in yesteryear, Verstappen wouldn’t have been able to simply drive his rival off the track.

 

Impending Zhou-m

giogggg

Chin up Gio, that GT3 car you drive next year will probably be faster than that thing

DPPI

Things have reached rock bottom at Alfa Romeo, with apparently outgoing Antonio Giovinazzi first castigating his team in public, and then refusing to speak to them after the race on team radio. Oh Gio – there’s always ADAC GT Masters to look forward to next year.

 

Ipso Crypto

overtakes

So excited to see the updated overtake table

Grand Prix Photo

All those overtakes got everyone so excited about the battle for Crypto Overtake Award. We’re just furiously hitting the refresh button looking for the updated standings. Not.

 

After you

Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) on the podium after the sprint race before the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix in Interlagos, Sao Paulo. Photo: Grand Prix Photo

Mr Saturday

Grand Prix Photo

Bottas wins on Saturday, lets everyone though on Sunday. Oh dear.

 

Yuki send

Tsunoda aaa

That’s one way to stop a rival Yuki

DPPI

Seriously Yuki, it won’t go into there. We know you’re slight, but it won’t fit.