After a two-week break, the Formula 1 season concludes with a double header, beginning with the Brazilian Grand Prix, which also features the third and final sprint weekend of the year.
Max Verstappen may have already wrapped up his second World Championship, but he will be aiming to claim a fourth consecutive victory in Sunday's race
Race preview
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Verstappen is currently 136 points clear of the rest of the field, highlighting the dominance that he has enjoyed in 2022.
As a result of winning his 14th race of the year at the Mexican Grand Prix, the two-time world champion broke Michael Schumacher's record for the most race wins in a single season.
The Dutchman will be looking to add to his trophy cabinet in Brazil, but the third sprint weekend of the season could help the other drivers mount a challenge to win Sunday's Grand Prix.
After finishing in third place at his home race, Sergio Perez will look to stand on top of the podium for the third time this season.
As well as Perez, the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are the only other drivers on the grid who have won a race in 2022, and they will be looking for an improved weekend after the prancing horse struggled with the altitude of Mexico City.
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Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton has already enjoyed a memorable week after being made an honorary citizen of Brazil during an official ceremony.
On the track, the seven-time world champion will be searching to win a race for the first time this season after going close in the United States and Mexico with back-to-back second-place finishes.
George Russell has struggled of late, failing to finish on the podium in the last four races, but he will be looking for a better result this weekend as Mercedes look to close the 40-point gap to Ferrari, who sit in second place in the Constructors' Championship
In the midfield, there is another battle between two teams, with Alpine currently seven points ahead of McLaren in the fight for fourth place.
As for Sebastian Vettel, the Brazilian Grand Prix will be his penultimate race before he retires from Formula 1 at the end of the season.
Track Guide
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The Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Interlagos is one of the shortest circuits currently on the Formula 1 calendar, and over the next few days, it will host a sprint weekend.
While overtaking proved to be difficult in Mexico, Interlagos should present the drivers with opportunities to pass.
The circuit contains a long-throttle section, while the middle sector will test the nimbleness and cornering ability of the cars.
There will be two DRS zones this weekend, with the first one beginning from turn three, while the second activation point is situated towards the start of the pit straight.
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Brazil also held a sprint race last season, which was won by Valtteri Bottas, who at the time was a Mercedes driver.
Three drivers in the current lineup have previous experience of winning the Brazilian Grand Prix, including Vettel, who has won on three occasions.
Last year's win around Interlagos represented the third time that Hamilton had stood on the top step in Brazil, while Verstappen was victorious in 2019.
Sainz will be looking to enjoy another memorable weekend at the circuit where he collected his first podium three years ago.
Qualifying Results
1. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
3. George Russell (Mercedes)
4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
6. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
7. Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
8. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
9. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
10. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
11. Alexander Albon (Williams)
12. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)
13. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)
14. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
15. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
16. Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
17. Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)
18. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
19. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
20. Mick Schumacher (Haas)
Sprint Results
1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
5. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
7. Lando Norris (McLaren)
8. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
9. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)
10. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)
11. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
12. Mick Schumacher (Haas)
13. Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)
14. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
15. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
16. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
17. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
18. Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
19. Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
20. Alexander Albon (Williams)
Driver Standings
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 416
2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) - 280
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 275
4. George Russell (Mercedes) - 231
5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - 216
6. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) - 212
7. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 111
8. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) - 82
9. Fernando Alonso (Alpine) - 71
10. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) - 47
11. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) - 36
12. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) - 35
13. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) - 24
14. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) - 23
15. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - 13
16. Mick Schumacher (Haas) - 12
17. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) - 12
18. Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo) - 6
19. Alexander Albon (Williams) - 4
20. Nyck De Vries (Williams) - 2
21. Nicholas Latifi (Williams) - 0
22. Nico Hulkenberg (Aston Martin) - 0
Constructor Standings
1. Red Bull - 696
2. Ferrari - 487
3. Mercedes - 447
4. Alpine - 153
5. McLaren - 146
6. Alfa Romeo - 53
7. Aston Martin - 49
8. Haas - 36
9. AlphaTauri - 35
10. Williams - 8
We say: Max Verstappen to win
Although a sprint race could result in a mixed starting grid, we think that Verstappen will continue his dominance to claim a fourth consecutive victory.
