Guenther Steiner predicts £25.5m-a-year F1 driver to win the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix

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The Sao Paulo Grand Prix is one of the most anticipated events on the Formula 1 calendar with the iconic Interlagos circuit producing some incredibly dramatic races over the years.

Lewis Hamilton’s last-corner move on Timo Glock in 2008 earned him his first world championship, denying hometown hero Felipe Massa his only title.

The Brazilian Grand Prix has produced some historic F1 moments, including Ayrton Senna winning with only one gear and Sebastian Vettel denying Fernando Alonso a third world championship.

Mercedes driver George Russell also won his first Formula 1 race at Interlagos and it turned out to be the team’s final victory until Hamilton ended that drought at Silverstone this year.

The grid has converged this season and every race is becoming more and more difficult to predict.

Carlos Sainz’s victory in Mexico meant he became the sixth driver to secure multiple race wins this year, with George Russell (one) and Sergio Perez (zero), the only drivers from the top four teams not to achieve this feat.

Talking on The Red Flags Podcast, former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has shared his prediction for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

He thinks Ferrari will be celebrating again, but Charles Leclerc will be the driver to stand on the top step of the podium.

Guenther Steiner predicts Charles Leclerc to win the Brazilian Grand Prix

Steiner was asked to predict who would finish on the podium at Interlagos and he said: “Charles, I think the car is just too good. Charles, Lando, Carlos.”

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Asked what can give a team headaches in Brazil, Steiner continued: “The weather sometimes, the weather can change very quickly, the weather is very unpredictable.

“So, maybe George will be right, the first one to spot that because he’s a bit of an expert, because for him it rains when it is not around.

“What else in Brazil? Actually, all the drivers like that. Brazil is a very nice race course, it’s small but it’s very nice because of the altitude change on the race track, the topography.”

Ferrari’s brilliant record at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Leclerc is Ferrari’s best – albeit faint – chance of winning the Drivers’ Championship this year, but it would take a miracle for the £25.5m-a-year driver to achieve that feat ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.

However, Ferrari have put themselves in contention over the past few races weekends to win the Constructors’ title.

Leclerc and Sainz’s recent results have seen Ferrari leapfrog Red Bull in the standings, in part helped by Perez’s poor form.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

McLaren are still leading the championship but only have a 29-point advantage over Ferrari.

Team principal Frederic Vasseur has said that he’s glad the battle between Norris and Verstappen is stealing all the headlines as it’s distracting people from how well his team are performing.

Ferrari have a terrific record in Brazil, having won 11 races in the country with the latest victory being in 2017 thanks to Vettel.

Unfortunately, the only team who have won more races in Brazil than Ferrari are McLaren and Vasseur, Leclerc and Sainz will hope they can’t extend their tally to 13 victories, although they’ve only won three times since 2000.