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/

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

Get yourselves strapped in for what is gonna be a cracker .

 

[mjo]

Now it's going to be an underwhelming disappointment. You've jinxed it!!

 

[Greenlantern101]

So much for the 'rain all day sunday' forecast.

Being a weather forecaster must be the best job in the world. Its the only job you can get totally wrong day after day after day and yet still show up the next day, no appology for getting it wrong, no embarassment, and no P45. .... Gits.

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

 

[Greenlantern101]

Anyone else getting really fed up with seeing the 10 minute long 'Sure' Lotus advert at every other add break.
ENOUGH ALREADY.

 

[mjo]

​

Darren Heath‏@F1Photographer​

MeteoFrance just told #FIA no rain @#f1brazil before 1pm. Who knows after that?! Wind picking up & cooler.... Tension building. (3pm UK time)

 

[Speshal]

That Alex Brundle's Britain's next F1 star documentary was good.
Now watching Senna before the Grand Prix starts .

Enjoyed the Alex Brundle thing, was fending off an ankle biter whilst it was on and couldn't tell when it was him or his Dad talking, had to switch Senna off again cos a chubby man blubbing isn't a good look (although my 3 year old nephew was glued to the screen - hope for him yet)

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

58 mins to go .

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

Speshal

Nothing wrong with crying mate! Let it all out .

 

[Speshal]

Every single time tho, because you know what's going to happen.

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

Yeah I know what you mean mate. Is sad .

But today is another day and come on Lewis and Jenson .

 

[Greenlantern101]

I can't watch that film either. Saw it at the cinema cried like a girl, watch the dvd after putting it off for 6 months, again water works. Never again.

Its hard watching your hero die.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Whats the latest forecast ? Looks sunny not rainy.

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

Tooned was rather funny today .

Bye Bye Lewis, hello Checo .

 

[ExtremeNinja]

OMFG! M just destroyed Lewis Hamilton in the simulator under Ron Dennis' command and turned him into Sergio Perez whilst Big Ron rubbed his hands together. Mwaaah haaa haaa haaa.

 

[mjo]

Sauber on Twitter: "There are more and more dark clouds ... Track temperature is 25 degrees, air temp is 20 with increasing humidity (63 %). Will it rain?"

 

[Greenlantern101]

answered my own question

 

[mnmracer]

For the statistics fans:
If Sebastian Vettel becomes the youngest tripple world champion today, it will only be the third main 'youngest driver to ...'-record (barring the more detailed ones) he takes that was not previously held by Fernando Alonso.

Not too surprisingly, but if Fernando Alonso becomes the youngest tripple world champion, it will be the first 'youngest driver to ...'-record he sets since Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have been hunting down those records.

Fernando Alonso was the youngest Formula One driver to:

• take pole position (21 years, 236 days - Malaysia 2003) before Sebastian Vettel broke that record (21 years, 73 days - Italy 2008).
• win a race (22 years, 26 days - Hungary 2003) before Sebastian Vettel broke that record (21 years, 73 days - Italy 2008).
• win a race from pole position (22 years, 26 days - Hungary 2003) before Sebastian Vettel broke that record (21 years, 73 days - Italy 2008).
• finish on the podium (21 years, 237 days - Malaysia 2003) before Sebastian Vettel broke that record (21 years, 73 days - Italy 2008).
• lead for at least one lap of the race (21 years, 237 days - Malaysia 2003) before Sebastian Vettel broke that record (20 years, 89 days - Japan 2007).
• win the world drivers championship (24 years, 59 days - 2005) before first Lewis Hamilton (23 years, 300 days - 2008) and then Sebastian Vettel broke that record (23 years, 134 days - 2010).
• win the world drivers championship for a second time (25 years, 85 days - 2006) before Sebastian Vettel broke that record (24 years, 98 days - 2011).

Fernando Alonso still isthe second-youngest driver to set a fastest lap, (21 years, 321 days - Canada 2003), ahead of Sebastian Vettel (21 years, 353 days - Silverstone 2009), but beaten by Nico Rosberg (20 years, 144 days - Bahrain 2006).

Fernando Alonso never was the youngest driver to score points; when Sebastian Vettel became the youngest driver to score points (19 years, 349 days - USA 2007), the record was held by Jenson Button (20 years, 67 days - 2000 Brazil). In Malaysia 2010, aged 20 years, 12 days, Jaime Alguersuari moved Jenson Button back to p3 in that list. Still counting by 'the old points system', Jenson edges out Sebastian by 29 days (20y67d to 20y96d) for the first 6th place finish in China 2007.

Fernando Alonso was also never the youngest runner-up in the championship. This record was taken by Lewis Hamilton in 2007 from Jacques Villeneuve, before Vettel took it from Hamilton in 2009.

 

[sushifiesta]

Odds of the words "Incident involving cars 1 and 6 will be investigated after the race" making an appearance at some point today?

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

WilliamsF1Team Temperature has dropped here in Brazil #Interlagos and rain is threatening