It's been quite the week for Max Verstappen.

The Dutchman had to field many questions in Thursday's presser about his driving style, saying: "It's my 10th year in F1. I think I know what I'm doing", when asked whether he would do anything different from now on.

So far this season, and for since the format came in, he's been the sprint king, winning the shorter dash on several occasions. The Dutchman has bolted on the medium tyre and jumps above team-mate Sergio Perez and the Mercedes of George Russell to go top with a 1:11.712.

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The triple-header has been red all over so far, with Carlos Sainz winning from pole position a week ago to add to Charles Leclerc's Texas triumph from fourth on the grid.

There are 34 points on offer in total for a sprint weekend, and Ferrari are expected to be quick again in Sao Paulo, so can the Italian team make it a clean sweep of three race wins to put even more pressure on the scrap for the constructors' championship?

Franco Colapinto is out in the other Williams and takes a lovely slide through the Esses on the medium compound. Get it out of your system now before sprint qualifying, Franco.

The Argentine was sat in the news conference with Lewis Hamilton yesterday and got to listen to the seven-time world champion singing his praises.

George Russell, a memorable winner here in Brazil, has beaten Sergio Perez's time and now sits top of the timesheets with a 1:11.806 on the mediums.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

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Max Verstappen is reported to be getting a five-place grid penalty for Sunday's race as a result of taking a new engine, having already exceeded his new allocation.

But he was unable to confirm it, saying: "I haven't heard anything yet. I know I will have to take one at some point, so we'll see."

Red Bull have not responded to requests for comment on the matter.

The stands are full to the brim with fans at Interlagos - and they're in for a treat this weekend. More on that in a few moments.

Alex Albon was the last man out on track but the Williams driver has a small issue already, telling his pit wall: "My headrest pin came out".

Sergio Perez is heading to Brazil off the back of another disappointing weekend. Is the Mexican's seat at Red Bull under threat for the final few races? He says definitely not.

Perez is out on the mediums and clocks the quickest lap so far with a 1:12.009.

Pirelli have gone one step softer for this year's event in Sao Paulo, with the C3 (hard, white), C4 (medium, yellow) and C5 (soft, red) the compounds of choice.

How the tyres will react to the completely new asphalt, we'll have to wait and see. But having only one practice session before jumping into a competitive session will probably be causing a few nerves up and down the paddock.

Image source, Pirelli 2024

The sun is shinning in Sao Paulo currently, but I'm going to be loyal to the BBC weather site and say rain could be on the way.

The forecast is for thundery showers and a gentle breeze across all three days at Interlagos, so we'll keep our eyes peeled for the first spots of rain hitting the newly resurfaced track.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Martin’s troubled season in terms of development continues - this weekend, they are reverting to a floor specification introduced at the Japanese Grand Prix, back in April. This is because a new floor introduced as part of a major upgrade at the United States Grand Prix two weeks ago did not deliver the expected performance.

A new front wing there stayed on the car; nothing else did. After back-to-back testing in Mexico last weekend, the Suzuka floor was deemed most appropriate.

This is a continuation of a pattern for Aston Martin this season - upgrades come to the car but don’t deliver what was expected. This was first seen at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, when an upgrade package made the car more difficult to drive and led to Fernando Alonso crashing in practice, most uncharacteristically.

In fact, the pattern goes back two seasons - although the team started 2023 competitively and Alonso scored a string of podiums, their performance tailed off through the year.It has not gone unnoticed that Mercedes - whose wind tunnel Aston Martin use - have been running into a similar issues. A new floor introduced in Belgium was eventually abandoned and there are still question marks about an upgrade for the USA race.

Both cars will be running it in Brazil, though, to maximise running and learning with it, and because there are not sufficient spares of the previous spec to run that. Aston Martin’s new wind tunnel comes on stream in the early part of next year, so the 2026 car will be the first to benefit from it.

BBC Sounds

Hello to Harry Benjamin and BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson and welcome back to former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer.

Listen on BBC radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and at the top of this page using the 'listen live' tab. Or, you can tune in via your smart speakers by asking BBC Sounds to play Sao Paulo Grand Prix practice one.

Just one practice session is all you get in Brazil.

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Ferrari have become the new hunter of McLaren following the Scuderia's double podium in Mexico City. The two teams are separated by 29 points heading into the final run of races. Former leaders Red Bull have now dropped to third place, 54 away from the top spot.

With Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg both in the points for Haas last week, the American-based team have moved 10 points clear of RB in the battle for sixth.

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While the constructors' title fight has changed hands this season, Max Verstappen has held a tight grip on the drivers' championship despite coming under increasing pressure.

With four races weekends to go, and with his lead being cut by 10 points in Mexico, the Dutchman is still ahead of rival Lando Norris by 47 points.

While Verstappen didn't make it on to the podium last week, Norris and Charles Leclerc did. The gap between the pair in the fight to take the runners-up spot is just 24 points.

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Someone who is on the mend is Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard was absent from Thursday’s media day for the second week running in this trio of races, with his arrival in Brazil delayed because of medical treatment for an intestinal infection.

Aston Martin said the two-time world champion's decision to return to Europe after the Mexico City Grand Prix to get treatment "ensures he will be ready for this weekend’s racing".

And here is in the Sao Paulo paddock today, ready to take on the fifth of six sprint weekends this season.

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A late substitution has been needed over at Haas for today's track running.

Welcome back, Oliver Bearman.

The 19-year-old reserve driver is stepping in for first practice and sprint qualifying because Kevin Magnussen is feeling unwell. Bearman will also take part in tomorrow's shorter sprint race.

This is the second time this season Briton Bearman has driven in place of Magnussen, the first being in Azerbaijan when the Dane was serving a one-race ban.

Read more here.

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Hello, folks. Two races down in this first triple-header with one more to go. Charles Leclerc won in Austin, Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz was victorious in Mexico, so who will take the top step of the podium in Brazil?

For the drivers and teams chasing glory, Interlagos offers the chance to collect more points for the championship tally in the form of a sprint weekend.

First (and only) practice gets under way at 14:30 GMT.

Sprint qualifying goes green at 18:30 GMT.

Commentary on both sessions is available on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, at the top of this page using the 'listen live' tab and via most smart speakers.

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In the heat of battle, tensions can simmer over.

Following their track tussle in Austin, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris went wheel-to-wheel once again, this time in Mexico, with their latest bout ending in a combined 20-second penalty for the Dutchman and only the McLaren driver finishing in a podium place.

Verstappen's driving style for his second incident with Norris has been compared to that of Dick Dastardly, the crafty cartoon villain who would use any trick in the book to gain an advantage over his rivals.

The title fight now moves to Interlagos, a circuit that has provided several dramatic moments in the race to become a Formula 1 champion.

If this weekend's grand prix does become an homage to Wacky Races, then the weather in Sao Paulo could play a big part in it...