Formula 1: McLaren, Ferrari drivers eliminated in Brazil

As a seasoned F1 gamer with years of virtual racing under my belt, I must say that this year’s Formula 1 world championship has been nothing short of thrilling. The nail-biting races, the unexpected twists, and the heart-stopping moments have kept me glued to my screen every weekend.

At the Interlagos Circuit, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri were in a precarious position for the 2024 Formula 1 world championship, as they needed to stay within 85 points of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to avoid being eliminated from contention after round 21. With only 4 races remaining on the unprecedented 24-race schedule of 2024, the stakes were high for both drivers.

Neither driver was able to do so.

At the start of the weekend, Leclerc found himself 71 points behind Verstappen, but managed to earn only 15 points compared to Verstappen’s score. Similarly, Piastri began the weekend with a deficit of 111 points against Verstappen and scored 20 fewer points during the weekend.

In simpler terms, Verstappen ended up in third position during the sprint race, but later got moved down to fourth because he was too near Piastri at the virtual safety car restart and was found to have violated the rules. As a result, Piastri came in second, as McLaren instructed him to let teammate Lando Norris win instead.

During the Grand Prix race itself, Max Verstappen managed to climb up from 17th position on the starting grid, thanks to the rainy conditions, and secured his first victory since June. Charles Leclerc placed fifth, while Piastri ended up seventh; however, he was later penalized for an incident with Liam Lawson from RB, causing him to be demoted to eighth place.

All in all, Verstappen scored 31 points in Brazil while Leclerc scored 16 and Piastri scored 11.

For each driver, there are 86 points up for grabs during the remaining three Grands Prix this season. A victory grants 25 points, while a driver who sets the fastest lap in a race and finishes within the top 10 also receives an additional point. Furthermore, one sprint race remains on the schedule, with the winner earning eight points.

Although Leclerc is only 86 points behind Verstappen, he’s already been eliminated from contention for the championship due to a tiebreaker. This is because Verstappen has won eight races this season compared to Leclerc’s three. Since race wins can’t be matched before the end of the season, Leclerc has no chance of catching up in that category.

Consequently, only Lando Norris from McLaren is still in contention to compete against Verstappen. However, he too could be disqualified in the next race. Currently, he’s 62 points behind Verstappen and must keep his score within 59 points of his rival after the Las Vegas Grand Prix at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit within the next three weeks.

For the rest of the 2024 racing season, there will be only 60 points left up for grabs for each driver following the Las Vegas race. Verstappen currently holds the advantage over Norris in terms of a tiebreaker, with the 24-year-old British driver having managed three wins like Leclerc.

On Sunday, November 24, starting at 12:55 a.m. Eastern Time, ESPN will broadcast the Las Vegas Grand Prix live from the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Following that race, the Qatar Grand Prix in Lusail International Circuit will be held on Sunday, December 1, and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit will take place on Sunday, December 8. Notably, a sprint event in Qatar is scheduled for Saturday, November 30.

2024-11-04 14:32

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