It was an eventful day on and off the track as the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend began at Interlagos.
The day’s activities played out as depressing news broke about the closing of Marussia, and the more surprising development of Caterham trying to crowdfund their way to the final race of the season.
During the practice session cars crashed, spun and caught fire. Those that managed to string a sequence of laps together between the interruptions tended to chew their tyres to pieces.
Here’s how Friday at the Brazilian Grand Prix happened on Twitter.
First practice
Felipe Nasr, who was announced as Sauber driver for 2015 yesterday, drove for Williams in a practice session for the final time.
Friday morning in São Paulo& @FelipeNasr is in the garage to drive his final #FP1 for us #BrazilGP #bancodobrasil pic.twitter.com/oPgCLnTkGj
— WILLIAMS RACING (@WilliamsRacing) November 7, 2014
Kevin's running some distinctive double rakes during the first part of #FP1. #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/1QFpDQqdqV
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 7, 2014
Verstappen also gets sideways: “I almost spun in the fast corner. Can you look if there’s any damage to the front wing?” #F1 #BrazilGP — F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) November 7, 2014
.@Marussia_F1Team have ceased trading. Will not be in Abu Dhabi. Full confirmation imminent. Staff made redundant. Sad day for the team.
— Daniel Johnson (@danielt_johnson) November 7, 2014
Gutted for all those staff at @Marussia_F1Team – lovely talented people who I hope will be snapped up by someone else very soon. — Rachel Brookes (@RachelBrookesTV) November 7, 2014
Kev’s been testing titanium skid blocks during this morning’s session – hence the sparks! #FP1 #BrazilGP — McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 7, 2014
Rosberg: “The white flag is too late, you need to move the white flag earlier. That needs to be done immediately.” #F1 #BrazilGP
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) November 7, 2014
Smith & Williamson (Caterham’s administrators), are accountants for CrowdCube (Caterham’s crowdsource company). Nothing to see here… — Daniel Johnson (@danielt_johnson) November 7, 2014
If that’s not a last cry of desperation, I don’t know what is. Utter sodding madness.
— Will Buxton (@willbuxton) November 7, 2014
For whatever reason, the cars sound awesome as they go past the media centre towards turn one. Really nice whistle to it.
— Daniel Johnson (@danielt_johnson) November 7, 2014
Second practice
Following Daniel’s accident in FP1 there was a lot of heat soak, which may have damaged some engine hydraulic components. #BrazilGP
— Sahara Force India (@ForceIndiaF1) November 7, 2014
My office window today! #interlagos #f1 #BrazilianGP pic.twitter.com/pvkJQsvtQz — Mark Thompson (@F1Thommo) November 7, 2014
Jenson Button was unhappy with his car’s balance.
Button: “Lot of bouncing, especially through loaded corners like turn 5. A proper bounce, you actually feel it through the steering wheel.” — F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) November 7, 2014
Hamilton is told to stay out for the VSC test. “I don’t need to do the Virtual Safety Car test,” he says. “We’ve been asked to,” he’s told.
— F1 Fanatic Live (@f1fanaticlive) November 7, 2014
I think the only tweak needed to F1 virtual safety car concept is to put a real safety car on the track. That should solve the problem.
— James Hinchcliffe (@Hinchtown) November 7, 2014
Rosberg's 1'12.123 on the resurfaced @InterlagosTrack is 2.3s off the track record 1'09.822 set by @rubarrichello in 2004. #F1 #BrazilGP
— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) November 7, 2014
The soft tyre is not enjoying long runs around Interlagos. This is Rosberg's front right after 10 laps #bbcf1 pic.twitter.com/FgvzPLgKGO
— Tom Clarkson (@TomClarksonF1) November 7, 2014
Pits and paddock
This picture from Austin made for an interesting debate between Formula One’s current medical car driver and former doctor.
@FakeMedicalCar @former_f1doc pic.twitter.com/9dLEysk2wr
— Mark (@marks359) November 7, 2014
@former_f1doc unclear to you perhaps, because you’re looking at a picture on Twitter. — Alan van der Merwe (@alanvdm) November 7, 2014
@former_f1doc not Thursday, track closed for inspection, marshals in position, MC at walking pace.
— Alan van der Merwe (@alanvdm) November 7, 2014
@former_f1doc yep, looks like you’ve got all the facts. — Alan van der Merwe (@alanvdm) November 7, 2014
BIG thanks to our first 250 backers, you’ve already raised £174,470 in less than 3 hours! #RefuelCaterhamF1 #ThankYou #F1 — Caterham F1 Team (@CaterhamF1) November 7, 2014
If we all pitch in we could get a Marussia logo on the Caterham car for Abu Dhabi.
— Craig Norman (@CraigNormanF1) November 7, 2014
Nice to see Sam Michael have to chance to use the FIA press conf to say goodbye to F1 at his penultimate race with McLaren — Adam Cooper (@adamcooperF1) November 7, 2014
Rob Smedley: The weather will be different over the weekend so we need to learn from today but be prepared for a different track in #Quali
— WILLIAMS RACING (@WilliamsRacing) November 7, 2014
Smedley says Alonso not going to Williams. Clearly, he has made a promise to Felipe and he's going to stick to it.
— f1bastard (@f1bastard) November 7, 2014
Not bad free practice day today in dry conditions. Sat/Sun could be tricky weather.. But whatever comes im looking forward to it! #BrazilGP — Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) November 7, 2014
Not the best way to end up a session but that’s motorsport. Feel very sorry for Checo and the team but I’m sure they will be strong tomorrow
— Dani Juncadella (@dani_juncadella) November 7, 2014
Pipistop !!😜😜 pic.twitter.com/Az9WvMQIVg — Felipe Massa (@MassaFelipe19) November 7, 2014
Hot day at the #BrazilGP but good to have @Lotus_F1Team closing up to the top 10. Let’s enjoy tomorrow with rain? #r8main #f1
— Romain Grosjean (@RGrosjean) November 7, 2014
Amusing moment in the #BrazilianGP paddock this afternoon, when Red @redbullracing junior boss Helmut Marko mistook me for @dani_juncadella — Ben Anderson (@BenAndersonAuto) November 7, 2014
@dani_juncadella @redbullracing He started asking me how bad the chassis was after the crash. Apparently he thinks you have longer hair…
— Ben Anderson (@BenAndersonAuto) November 7, 2014
F1 Fanatic on Twitter
F1 Fanatic has three Twitter accounts you can follow:
- F1 Fanatic: F1 Tweets straight from the editor including links to all new articles
- F1 Fanatic Live: Live F1 session coverage including team radio
- F1 Fanatic Update: Just links to new articles on F1 Fanatic – nothing else
2014 Brazilian Grand Prix
- Rosberg earns first Driver of the Weekend win of 2014
- 2014 Brazilian Grand Prix fans’ video gallery
- Solid Brazilian Grand Prix opens up title fight
- 2014 Brazilian Grand Prix team radio transcript
- Sponsor Watch: 2014 US and Brazilian Grands Prix
WH
7th November 2014, 23:22
Gary Hartstein covering himself with glory as usual. Apparently the most frustrating thing about being a retired doctor is not getting to tell people off every day…
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
8th November 2014, 3:13
I’ve got so say I respected the guy and enjoyed his blog but sometimes he comes out as a total…. yeah, that.
Some of his latest blogs were quite harsh. Specially the one about Jules’ accident. He used to give a great POV, nowadays he sounds just bitter…
hzh (@hzh00)
8th November 2014, 7:03
A hilarious “pitstop” by massa.
tmekt (@tmekt)
8th November 2014, 10:20
“cars crashed, spun and caught fire”
Sounds like a decent Hollywood action film.