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/

 

[Brogan]

Yes, confirmed by Brundle.
Looks like they dropped the ball during the race then calling that wrong.

https://twitter.com/MBrundleF1/statuses/272763281075228672

 

[FB]

Lucky, lucky Sebastien Vettel but they say it's better to be lucky than good.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Vettel Senna was lap 2 I think, certainly late lap 1, not a starting incident. On board vettel vid, light was flashing yellow only.

Another tainted German F1 championship.

But stuff happens, Vettel won.
So Well done Seb.

 

[Jen]

As usual, I am lost - but two things struck me:

'Damaged' cars seem to be able to make it to the end of the race, but maybe not if it was earlier in the season!

And some drivers only pull their fingers out at the end of the season - I wonder why that is?

An interesting and exciting race because of the above - a little more dedicated involvement from driver and team wouldn't go amiss throughout the entire season.

 

[Wombcat]

Brogan, you're right, it was a first lap incident. But halfway during the season I saw an interview with Charlie Whiting where he said that in general they don't investigate first lap incidents, because there's too much going on and the racing is too close. So in general they're viewed as racing incidents, unless there's something special about the incident (like the starting incident with Grosjean in Spa).

 

[Dario Resta]

Some are saying it was the yellow and red slippery surface flag. I didn't see, was that possible?

Definitely yellows. There's some talk that Vettel let Kobayashi take the place back, but I thought in the case of flags that was irrelevant - it's still a rule breach that carries a penalty - in this case time added after the race, although I could be misinformed.

I don't think it will come to anything though.

 

[Greenlantern101]

red yellow light. OK. like to see it again.

 

[Wombcat]

Vettel Senna was lap 2 I think, certainly late lap 1, not a starting incident.

It was in the first lap, after the second straight. So shortly after the start.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Vettel Senna was turn 4 lap 1.
My bad.

 

[Brogan]

It was turn 3/4.

As for the yellow flags, that has been cleared up: https://twitter.com/MBrundleF1/statuses/272763281075228672

To answer many it appears the warning lights were red and yellow for slippery track not yellow so nothing to answer for Vettel.

 

[Dario Resta]

I've looked at it 3 times now and it still looks yellow. Maybe I need a new telly??

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

The bad news is that with the rules remaining the same next year, we could see Vettel claim another title if Button doesn't pull his socks up at Mclaren.

 

[FB]

Sky pad just showed yellow lights followed by a green and then back to yellow again. Whoever was putting the lights on should be shot.

 

[Greenlantern101]

McNish just showed it was BOTH a red and yellow oil/slippy flag AND a Yellow flashing light. No overtaking. Penalty should of been applied. This may not be over.

 

[racecub]

Very exciting race. Congrats to Seb, commiserations to Alonso. Both did their very best. typical luck for Lewis.

 

[Bill Boddy]

Yes, both Button and Hulkenberg need to pull their socks up for forfeiting a 45+ second lead in only a couple of laps or so.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

Schumacher yielding to Vettel was a little disappointing IMHO, though Vettel was way faster at that point.

 

[Wombcat]

And the Toro Rosso's jumping out of the way were disappointing too.

 

[Josh]

Well that was a pretty great race imo. Would have been better if di Resta didn't crash at the end but oh well. I'm happy.

 

[Wombcat]

The first half of the race was brilliant. After the first SC most of the excitement was gone though. With Vettel up to 6th it was clear he was gonna take the WDC.