Mercedes AMG Petronas: Brazil Preview

The Formula One circus is at Interlagos this weekend.

Round 18 of the 2014 Formula One World Championship brings us to São Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix, held at the Aut¢dromo José Carlos Pace.

Lewis Hamilton

Winning in the States was just an incredible feeling. I love spending time there and it's fantastic to see how much the sport is growing. I was just blown away by the support I had all weekend, which made the win even more special. Once I got ahead in the race there was no looking back and I still can't quite believe the run we've had recently. The team are doing an incredible job. Next up, of course, we have Brazil – which is another very, very special place for me. In 2008 I needed to finish fifth or better to take the title and, until the very last corner of the last lap, I was running sixth. I passed Timo (Glock) down the inside and, as I crossed the line, I didn't know if I'd done it or not. I honestly thought I'd lost it until quite a while after the flag, when the team came over the radio to tell me I'd won the World Championship. That was an incredible emotional rollercoaster and a moment that will stay with me for my entire life. My record at Interlagos hasn't actually been the best so far in terms of results, though, with only one podium all the way back in 2009. I'm hoping this weekend will be the one to change that.

Nico Rosberg did pick up a nice cowboy hat last weekend in Texas. But the German slipped further behind teammate Lewis Hamilton in the championship.

Nico Rosberg

The weekend in Austin was a tough one for me. Qualifying was obviously fantastic but I was disappointed to let the lead slip away in the race and to lose more points in the fight for the Drivers' Championship. In the end, Lewis just did a better job on the day and now it's up to me to make the most of these last two races and capitalise on any opportunity. It will be tough, but I'm going to give it absolutely everything I've got right up to the flag in Abu Dhabi. That first opportunity comes this weekend at the Brazilian Grand Prix – one of the classic races on the calendar. There is so much history there and, of course, there have been many great Brazilian drivers in Formula One. I've got a mixed record at this circuit but it's one I really enjoy as it's usually a really action-packed race. It would be great to give my title challenge a final boost with a good result before we head to the showdown in Abu Dhabi.

With only Hamilton and Rosberg able to win the title, Toto Wolff is all smiles.

Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport

What a weekend we had in America – fantastic support from the crowds, a great spectacle on the track and another top result for the Silver Arrows in a key market for Mercedes-Benz. As a child, I remember the dominant season of McLaren in 1988 – winning race after race throughout the year – so it makes me extremely proud for the team that we have now equaled that record for one-two finishes with the result in Austin. Both drivers performed superbly and it was fascinating to see how evenly matched they still are as we approach the end of a long, tough season. It is hugely satisfying to know that now only a Mercedes driver can win the Drivers' Championship. Although this has appeared likely for some time, you can never rest easily until it is a mathematical certainty. Of course, that's not to say that there will be any rest between now and the end of the season as the double-points race in Abu Dhabi still has the potential to overshadow a great season should reliability become a factor. Our focus is still 100% on ensuring that is not the case.

Paddy Lowe

Paddy Lowe, Executive Director (Technical)

Another great result in Austin and a fantastic achievement to have matched the record for one-two finishes in a single season. America is an important market for Formula One and it was great to see such tremendous support for the race throughout our weekend in Texas. People came from all across the States and created a real carnival atmosphere around the city, which was encouraging to see in a country where there are so many alternatives on offer sports-wise. On track it wasn't an entirely straightforward weekend, with various problems to deal with throughout the practice sessions. When it came down to it, though, the cars delivered strong performance so all credit to the team for their hard work. The drivers were also in very strong form – competing very evenly and separated by the smallest of margins throughout the race, which was exciting to watch. It's clear that both are in great shape and enjoying the competition in a healthy way. Looking ahead to Brazil, the majority of the track has been resurfaced which will remain a point of great interest throughout the weekend in terms of how the tyres perform. It's a tricky circuit at the best of times, with high altitude, significant elevation changes and a high frequency of wet conditions. Already, the weather is forecast to include thunder storms on all three running days! It's sure to be an exciting weekend and a good prelude to the title showdown in Abu Dhabi.

Aut¢dromo José Carlos Pace: The Inside Line

Lewis Hamilton last year at Sao Paulo

Lewis Hamilton

You start the lap absolutely flat out into the low-grip Turn One. The corner really falls away from you quite steeply here and it's so easy to lock up, but you need to make sure to get a really tight exit to enable you to be flat through Turns Two and Three. Positioning is crucial to carrying good speed through these two corners, as you're then into the first DRS straight and one of the best overtaking opportunities around the circuit at Turn Four.

You can brake really late for this corner – way after the 100m line and closer to the 50m line – so you need to take as much speed as possible on the way in. You then take a little bit of the kerb on exit and run flat out through Turn Five, all the way up to Turn Six. Again, this is a corner where you can carry so much speed on entry – trying to just clip the apex and doing the same through Turn Seven and hanging the car out wide for the entry to Turn Eight.

Along with Turn Nine, this really does require you to use absolutely all of the kerb for the best line and is really tricky to get right. Turn Ten is next, which is really low grip and just seems to last forever. There's so little traction but you have to find it as best you can, as you're then flat out down the hill through Turn 11, where the car is constantly trying to step out on you.

Braking into Turn 12, the final corner in effect, is tough. Your tyres are so hot from the stop / start, high braking nature of the middle sector that the rear end can fishtail into here and it's easy to overrun the corner. You have to keep up your minimum speed, though, as the lap ends with a flat-out run up the hill and across the line, where keeping the steering as straight and smooth as possible is crucial. It's a long run and with the DRS zone included, this is the best chance to make an overtake stick.

Nico Rosberg says the anti-clockwise Interlagos circuit places great strain on the driver's neck.

Nico Rosberg

The unique thing about Interlagos is the altitude, which loses you a lot of engine power and also downforce compared to most other circuits as the air is so much thinner. This affects many things in terms of both the car and your procedures – for example the start performance, which always drops away at this track.

It's an anti-clockwise track, which is quite unusual on the current calendar and puts a lot of strain on the left side of your neck, as this is not usually the side which gets the most strain. This is particularly noticeable down the start / finish straight, which is not really a straight but a continuous curve from the exit of Turn 12 all the way through Turns 13, 14 and 15.
This track is also one of the best for overtaking – particularly on that run along the straight and down into Turn One, which is a really tricky off-camber corner. You have to get this absolutely right to make the move stick, as it's so easy to lock an inside wheel and lose your momentum through the next sequence of corners.

The weather always makes for an interesting weekend in Brazil. Coupled with the overtaking opportunities, it has often produced really exciting races for the fans sitting at home which is great.

Mercedes AMG Petronas