Mattia Binotto to skip 2022 Brazil GP and oversee work on Ferrari’s 2023 car in Maranello

09/11/2022 19:07

Scuderia Ferrari has arrived in Brazil for the penultimate round of the 2022 Formula 1 season, as the Maranello team is looking to bounce back after the disappointing result and performance in the Mexico City Grand Prix two weeks ago. Ferrari wants to prove that the Mexico event was an unfortunate one-off and to score a solid team result at the 4.309 km (2.677 mi) motorsport circuit located in the city of Sao Paulo to secure second place in the Constructors standings, with Mercedes now 40 points behind.

The Autódromo José Carlos Pace is one of the shortest on the calendar, it runs counter clockwise and represents a very difficult test of man and machine. Interlagos is made up of a mix of fast turns, hairpins and gradient changes, which along with a bumpy surface makes for a particularly demanding mix. This means that identifying the optimal set-up is a compromise between a lot of aerodynamic downforce and as little drag as possible. Interlagos is demanding from an aerodynamic point of view, mainly due to the slow mixed middle section with its low speed corners, while the first and third sectors require a lot of power from the engine to face the straights and corners taken at full throttle. Passing is a definite possibility, mainly in the Senna esses following the start-finish line, which is one of the DRS zones, along with another on the straight between turns 3 and 4. Corner 12, “Junção” is very important for being quick in the final sector, both on a flying lap and in race pace if a driver has to defend or go on the attack in the braking zone for turn 1.

While Ferrari will be targeting a solid result in Brazil, team principal Mattia Binotto will have a much more important task in view of next season: the Ferrari boss will remain once again in Maranello to oversee work on the Italian side’s 2023 car and therefore will not be at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend.

Just like in 2021, the Brazilian Grand Prix is the last races of the season which takes place based on the Sprint format, that means means a different timetable than usual. On Friday, there will be just one free practice session from 12.30 local (16.30 CET) before Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will be tackling the qualifying session at 16 (20 CET) to determine the grid positions for Saturday’s Sprint events, which is scheduled to start at 16.30, over 24 laps, equal to around 100 kilometres. The top eight score points and the result also determines the starting grid for Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix that starts at 14 (18 CET) over 71 laps, a distance of 305.879 kilometres.

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