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/

 

[tooncheese]

; the WCC position is worth far more to the team in terms of $ than Alonso winning the WDC.

In TV money it is, but sponsor's have more money and interest in the drivers championship. Red Bull were hardly jumping for joy after Austin.

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

At the moment it feels awful, cause we have a few drivers who are likely not to be on the grid next season. We don't even know whether it's good bye to a team as well.

If this is Kobayashi, Kovalainen, Senna and HRT's last race in F1 as a fan i'd really like to know. But everything is up in the air and as fans we deserve a chance to say goodbye properly.

 

[Il_leone]

Did you guys notice the little - pat on the back from Alonso to Massa after qualifying?
I reckon Ferrari are plotting something that involves Massa doing something naughty, you can see it happening. If they can break his gearbox then they's nothing to suggest they won't do something even more sinister.

--------------------------------------------

He is not Eddie Irvine

 

[teabagyokel]

HammydiRestarules - We were denied the chance of a true farewell to a driver who'd raced in F1 for 19 years last year; it is a sad situation that the seats are not tied up by now.

 

[GermanF1]

I have a feeling that this race and the decision in the WDC will be extremely exciting today. I really can't wait...

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

teabagyokel

Yeah i guess your right. It's just sad that we form these attachments to these drivers and we don't get a chance of a farewell.

Barrichello's last year was shocking. Williams should have put him out of his misery earlier and let him have a proper farewell.

 

[Speshal]

Brogan. I think Ferrari will value Alonso's championship over the WCC payout. Whilst the primary objective of each business is to make a profit, you get the feeling that there is more to Ferrari's motivation than money alone and that perhaps, in the short term, it is a lesser importance to them.

They are in the sport to sell their road cars, I don't think they have a problem there.

 

[tooncheese]

Speshal, are they? Enzo ordered the construction of road cars to help fund his F1 projects.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

They are there to be Ferrari and to demonstrate the latin spirit that embodies them and all that mumbo jumbo.

 

[Speshal]

tooncheese - very true but that was then, this is now

Just as an aside, the alternators that have failed in the Red Bulls are made by Magneti Marelli, who are owned by Fiat who also own................. (I'll put my tin foil hat away now)

 

[sushifiesta]

I think Webber can be as bullish as he likes but the truth is that he is now very much a number two driver. If there's a hint of him making things difficult for Vettel then Red Bull will intervene, like they did in Abu Dhabi by brining him in to the pits when Vettel had closed up to the back of him. Webber might not give Vettel as much help as Massa gives Alonso, but he won't be allowed to hinder him.

EDIT: Jean-Eric Vergne, master of subtlety:

 

[Boyle]

I can't wait! It has all the ingredients for a classic GP. Only thing that can ruin it is (a) a safety car start or (b) Alonso or Vettel being taken out at the first corner.

I remember now that this is what it was like as a kid at Christmas

 

[sushifiesta]

Vettel being taken out at the first corner would make the race more exciting, IMO. It leaves Alonso to try and get on the podium, which means he has to find a way past Hamilton, Button or Webber. If Vettel doesn't retire or the order doesn't get massively shook up by rain then it should be pretty straight forward for him to win the championship.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Never has he been on so much pressure to perform. This is a huge test for Vettel, as straight forward as the task might seem on any other day.

 

[chris1981]

What I would l lik to see is for Massa to be underfuelled dramatically (say only enough to get around 75% distance). His lighter car should be faster than the Redbull. I would like to see him become a mobile roadblock in sector 2, basically dropping right down the grid but keeping Vettel behind him. In sector 3 use the KERS plus straight line speed advantage to stay ahead. It would obviously be risky and challanging to let the others except Vettel past but fun to watch. I think a few laps of it would rattle and unsettle Vettel though - maybe enough to lose his cool and try something risky to get past.
I'm also hoping for a good shootout at the front between Button and Hamilton without traffic/mechanical issues coming into play.

 

[Slyboogy]

Judging by how the seasons went, I wouldn't be surprised if Alonso wins it, the championships had Alonso written all over until the last few grand prixs, and with it looking like raining, he's got the best chance possible now.

 

[Jos the Boss]

Where is everyone getting that it is raining from?

 

[tooncheese]

Hopefully thats just a break in the clouds, I hate it when certain rain ends up being completely dry - happens far too often.

 

[teabagyokel]

The Twitter reports seem to be suggesting a dry race.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

"unlike". A dry race with a shower in the middle would be brilliant, though.