Interlagos, Sunday 7 November 2010:
Pincer movement off the start line by the Red Bulls on Alonso; Vettel from the left pushing Fernando into the wall, Webber from the rear. The bulletproof Ferrari survives, but Fernando has to pit to get his front wing replaced and Vettel's nosecone removed from his sidepod. Webber does a 360 degree backflip, landing in the gravel on all four wheels which proceed to come off. Both Red Bulls retire. Vettel trudges off muttering, pointing his finger at his temple and rotating it in a curious gesture.
Hamilton (who had qualified behind his teammate having been baulked by Schumacher in Q3) passes Button round the outside at turn 5 to take the lead which he holds to the flag, even after a scare half way through the race when he runs wide, but keeps momentum through the gravel trap and just avoids the tyre barrier.
Alsonso fights back to second, eventually passing his teammate who suddenly seems to slow mysteriously at the end of the back straight. Two laps later the championship leader's engine explodes in a cloud of white smoke, forcing him into retirement. Unable to spot any fire marshals, the quick-thinking Spaniard manages to extinguish the inferno by singlehandedly pushing the stricken Ferrrari into the balancing lake between turns 11 and 12.
Button, struggling round in third ("There was just no grip out there; couldn't get any heat into my tyres!") is passed late in the race by the now charging Brazilian, but manages to hold off the two Mercs to secure a fighting third place finish.
Massa is cock-a-hoop as he gets his second podium in a row, and over the radio is heard to say, "Not bad for a number two driver". In the post-race press conference he says "Well Luca, I've done my bit; it's a pity my teammate didn't back me up."
Hamilton now leads the standings by four points from Alonso, with Webber in third. Alonso, Vettel and Webber are all investigated after the race and given 10 place grid penalties for Abu Dhabi, where Mclaren go on take a one-two to secure the Driver's championship for Hamilton and the Constructors' championship for the team.
Well, one can dream, can't one?