Grand Prix 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

So it all comes down to the final race. The prancing horse versus the charging bull. The passionate Catalan versus the efficient German. Red versus Blue. Enough of the clichés, Vettel has a 13 point lead over Alonso going in to the race between the lakes so only has to finish in front of the Spaniard to claim his third title in a row. All the pressure will be on Ferrari and Alonso to give the Spaniard his third title and they probably need something to go wrong at Red Bull to stand any chance of winning, if their pace in the USA was anything to go by.

After his victory in the USA Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to leave McLaren on a high note. Lotus, surely, would love a second victory in 2012 but as fast as the car is it can't compete with the top 3 teams. Felipe Massa is starting to regain some of his old form and will, without doubt, be required to ride shotgun to Alonso. Mark Webber will be looking to win again at Interlagos but I doubt Vettel will suffer similar "brake" problems as he had last year.

The constructors championship is all sown up with Red Bull champions again. McLaren could steal 2nd place from Ferrari but a stronger performance from Jenson Button is needed in Brazil. Last year he was 3rd, two McLaren men in the top 4 could win them a few extra millions from FOM.

The final factor to build in is the weather. Brazil is notorious for changeable weather conditions and a sprinkling of rain could turn things Alonso's way. So tune next Sunday for the final event of 2012, but before then feel free to express your opinions below and don't forget to check out the circuit write up.

http://cliptheapex.com/pages/autodromo-jose-carlos-pace-interlagos/

 

[Road of Bones]

Nice bookend to the season, given that McLaren were 1-2 on the grid in Australia

Great quali session all round really!

 

[ExtremeNinja]

That's like a sandwich with good quality bread and a sloppy filling.

 

[snowy]

 

[F1ang-o]

If...on the warm up lap tomorrow...Lewis gets a team radio message to alter his clutch setting....will he?
Or..will he give them a KIMI...'leave me alone...I know what I'm doing'?
Hope he gets a great launch...

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Vettel looked pretty rattled. Not seen him looking quite so nervous before.

 

[sushifiesta]

Random fact: Lewis has not finished 2nd this season and Jenson hasn't finished 3rd.

 

[Greenlantern101]

ExtremeNinja Have to agree Vettel looked unhappy even miserable. He looked tired and worried, maybe its the 'beard' but he actually looked like he had slept rough last night. Never seen him anything less than happy and smiling. With clear mistakes when it mattered looks like the pressure is getting to him. We have seen him buckle under pressure before (Canada anyone).

If I was a fan I would be worried. .... but I'm not so I'm not.

 

[Il_leone]

Greenlantern101

He is on the dirty side of the grid and has both Massa and Maldonado behind him to worry about

He may jump the slow starting Webber but slowly Mclaren's are not going to do anything silly in the first two corners

and if its true there is rain then it can be worrying

Seb's advantage for now but I am sure Ferrari will instruct Massa to get after Vettel at the start if he can

No one knows what Maldonado might be like then you got Hulkenberg who has a fast car in a straight line


Seb did have a wobble in quali

 

[Brogan]

Interestingly Vettel was only fourth fastest in all three sectors.

Hamilton, Button and Webber had one each.

http://184.106.145.74/fia-f1/f1-2012/f1-2012-20/Qualifying Session Best Sector Times.pdf

 

[Mephistopheles]

I'll take that grid, should be a good race and those Ferrari's have been good off the start this year and could jump both Redbulls...

 

[racecub]

Random fact: Lewis has not finished 2nd this season and Jenson hasn't finished 3rd.

Another random fact. I think Lewis is the only one to make all q3's this season.

 

[Brogan]

All the qualifying (and race) results are here if you want to confirm that: http://cliptheapex.com/pages/2012-results/

The colour coding makes it easy to check - any white cells are P11 and down.

 

[Jos the Boss]

I think it's a five place grid drop for Maldonado, I've seen that on twitter

 

[Brogan]

It's 10 places as it's his third reprimand.

The first driver to have been affected by the three strikes rule.

 

[no-FIAt-please]

Both Merc drivers are running a wet set-up. There's a glimmer of hope for Schumi fans yet...

 

[ExtremeNinja]

If Lewis were to win tomorrow then he would finish the season with an equal number of wins to Vettel and one more pole position. inconsequential but interesting, I thought.

 

[Jos the Boss]

Even better! Schumi is on the clean side! I'm gonna start rain dancing

 

[mnmracer]

If the 'forces that be' have a sense of style either
- Alonso will win the championship by winning the race, winning the title with a 1st (Brazil 2012), 2nd (Brazil 2005) and 3rd (Japan 2006) place, or
- Vettel will win the championship by finishing second, winning the title with a 1st (Abu Dhabi 2010), 2nd (Brazil 2012) and 3rd (Japan 2011) place.

 

[snowy]

If Lewis were to win tomorrow then he would finish the season with an equal number of wins to Vettel and one more pole position. inconsequential but interesting, I thought.

It would be a damning indictment of McLaren's balls dropping season.

 

[racecub]

All the qualifying (and race) results are here if you want to confirm that: http://cliptheapex.com/pages/2012-results/

The colour coding makes it easy to check - any white cells are P11 and down.

Thanks for that Brogan. He is the only one to make all q 3's. pretty good scores when there too. 8 poles(if you include Spain) and 5 second places.

Edit: and I can't count, that's the second time I've edited the post!!