In a stunning turn of events, Lance Stroll’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix was over before it even began. The Aston Martin driver lost control and spun off the track during the formation lap, ultimately finding himself stranded in the gravel, leaving his car “beached” with no way back into the race. This unfortunate incident led to an aborted start, creating further delays and reshuffling the expectations for the Grand Prix.
“Lance Stroll will not be able to start this race,” one commentator confirmed after the mishap. Stroll’s spin on the formation lap was so sudden that it left fans and team members alike in shock. As Stroll’s car lay immobile, it became apparent that the race would need an extra formation lap to realign the grid and reset for a new start. Consequently, the race was reduced to 70 laps, down from the scheduled 71.
Here is the video:
Lance Stroll's spin during the formation lap!#F1 #Formula1 #BrazilGPpic.twitter.com/hgcveNigX8
— Extreme Cars (@extremecars__) November 3, 2024
The chaos on the grid didn’t end with Stroll’s unfortunate spin. As the rest of the drivers lined up for the revised start, there was noticeable confusion, with Valtteri Bottas and Franco Colapinto seen idling on the track, adding to the mounting tension. “This is chaos!” a commentator remarked, with the aborted start highlighting the unusual series of events marking the lead-up to the race.
Max Verstappen starts from P17!
Adding to the unpredictability was an impending weather complication. Forecaster Nick Golding warned that a shift in wind direction was pushing heavier rain toward the circuit, potentially setting the stage for an even more challenging race day. “Wind has changed direction… even heavier rain heading the circuit’s way,” he reported, predicting an escalation in weather conditions that could affect track performance and strategy.
Stroll’s pre-race crash and the looming rain only amplified an already unpredictable weekend at Interlagos. Lando Norris had seized pole position after Max Verstappen’s surprising early exit in Q2, exacerbated by a red flag incident that eliminated the championship leader before the final qualifying round.
With an engine penalty in place, Verstappen was relegated to 17th on the starting grid, while Lewis Hamilton also faced a setback, starting from 16th after failing to advance beyond Q1. George Russell, on the other hand, secured a front-row start alongside Norris, adding pressure on Verstappen’s rivals to capitalize on this unique grid arrangement.