Formula One: Brazilian Grand Prix Preview

Your 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix podium.

The Formula One circus makes its annual visit to South America this weekend for the 2014 Brazilian Grand Prix. It will be the 31st time Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, better known as Interlagos, will host a round of the World Championship. Interlagos also hosted a non-championship race in 1972 won by Carlos Reutemann in a Brabham-Ford.

That race, just as the Brazilian Grand Prixs at Interlagos from 1973-1977 and 1979-1980 were run on the old 26-turn 8-kilometer circuit. Ever since Formula 1 returned to Interlagos in 1990 the race has been run on the current 15-turn 4.3-kilometer layout.

Alain Prost is the all-time leader with 6 wins in the Brazilian Grand Prix. Reutemann and Michael Schumacher each won four times.

McLaren leads all Constructors with 12 victories in Brazil. Ferrari has 10, Williams 6 and Red Bull.

A few quick facts on Interlagos

The anti-clockwise Interlagos circuit places great physical strain on the drivers

• The circuit is one of the few anti-clockwise tracks on the F1 calendar, and will thus put greater strain on drivers’ necks.
• DRS zones will be into Turns 1 and 4
• Interlagos sits at high altitude about 800 meters above sea level. Also, the track was not built on flat ground. Both these factors place greater strain on the engines
• As the quickest lap time on the F1 calendar, traffic typically plays a factor at Interlagos. Of course, that might be negated with only 18 cars this weekend
• Interlagos has one of the longest pit-lanes on the calendar. Pit strategy will play a factor.

Felipe Massa en route to victory in 2008

Which drivers in this year’s race run well at Interlagos?

There are four former winners in this year’s race: Sebastian Vettel (2010, 2013), Felipe Massa (2006, 2008), Jenson Button (2012) and Kimi Raikkonen (2007). Raikkonen and Vettel (2010) each clinched world championships at the track.

Massa is also a three-time polesitter in his home Grand Prix, while Vettel has started P1 twice. Force-India’s Nico Hulkenberg also scored a surprise pole position in 2010.

Interlagos has not been one of Lewis Hamilton's better tracks

Oddly, World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have never won at Interlagos. Although it should be noted Alonso has seven podium finishes at Interlagos and won pole for the 2005 race. As for Hamilton, the 10-time winner in 2014 sat on pole for the 2012 race. However, his best finish in 7 Interlagos starts was 3rd in 2009.

Hamilton’s Mercedes AMG Petronas teammate Nico Rosberg, who trails the Brit by 24 points in the World Championship has a best finish of 4th at Interlagos (2007).

What are some of the storylines coming into the weekend?

Well, with two races remaining, the championship battle between Rosberg and Hamilton will certainly be a storyline.

Can Nico Rosberg close the gap to Hamilton in Brazil?

Hamilton cannot clinch the championship in the Brazil, as there will be 50 points on offer in the silly double-points finale two weeks in Abu Dhabi. With a 24-point advantage, even if Hamilton was to win and Rosberg not score, the Brit would have a 49-point lead heading to Abu Dhabi.

That said, with 5 consecutive Grand Prix victories, Hamilton looks to be in top-form, and Rosberg is not in a position where he can afford to give ground.

Another story that will surely be making headlines this weekend is the current financial situation in
Formula One. Of course, Marussia and Caterham will not be participating for the second straight Grand Prix this weekend. Further, last weekend in Austin there were rumors that Force-India, Lotus and Sauber might boycott the U.S. Grand Prix to draw attention to the financial hardships of smaller teams. And similar rumors have surfaced this week.

Last, there is rain expected both Friday and Saturday in Sao Paulo. And one has to wonder if the weather will play any role in the championship.

Anything else to keep an eye on?

Obviously, Hamilton and Rosberg have checked out on everyone in the standings. And Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo sits a very solid third, 59 points ahead of Williams’ Valtteri Bottas in fourth. However, Bottas is clinging to a very small 6-point advantage over Alonso and Vettel.

Can Valtteri Bottas hold off Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso in the two remaining Grand Prix?

Now, Bottas has finished on the podium five times in the last ten races. By contrast, Vettel (2) and Alonso (1) have only combined for one podium in that span.

After the series of difficult seasons Williams Martini Racing has endured, having one of their drivers finish ahead of World Champions Vettel and Alonso would arguably be the most noteworthy accomplishment in what has been a very strong season for the storied team.

So, who wins?

Hamilton.

Sorry to be boring, but the Brit is at his absolute peak right now. Rosberg may win pole, but the German has been no match for Hamilton over a full race since Germany in July. Hamilton scores consecutive win number six, and moves closer to securing his second world title.

Brian Carroccio is a columnist for AutoRacing1. He can be contacted at BrianC@AutoRacing1.com.