Formula 1 revs off to Brazil for year’s penultimate race

Although Lewis Hamilton won the championship two weeks ago, there is still some racing to do and Formula One heads to South America today for the series’ penultimate race of the season.

The Brazilian Grand Prix at Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Sao Paolo has seen many a dramatic race over the years – the 2008 title decider between Hamilton and Felipe Massa, the 2012 decider between Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, and even last year’s race when Max Verstappen collided with backmarker Esteban Ocon and missed out on winning the race.

Mercedes want to keep their good fortune going and Ferrari are determined to prove that their poor performance in Austin was a one-off.

Red Bull, meanwhile, want to right the wrongs of 12 months ago.

“Racing in Brazil, in Sao Paulo, I think, in a nutshell, anything can happen,” Ferrari’s Vettel said. “I don’t know why, but there is something about this place and this circuit. Every year, something crazy happens and, if it doesn’t, you can be sure it will the following year.

“This is another track that has suited us well and treated us well over the past couple of years. I remember we had good pace there and Kimi [Räikkönen] was on the podium last year, while we won the race two years ago.”

Vettel might prove to be Ferrari’s best chance to win today, with team-mate Charles Leclerc starting outside the top 10 courtesy of a grid penalty for a new engine.

Elsewhere, following confirmation that Alex Albon will stay with Red Bull next year following his mid-season call-up from Toro Rosso, the Thai driver is keen to experience this track for the first time.

F1 Standings

“Sao Paolo looks very cool and it’s a driver’s track that takes you back to the old school of racing, which I enjoy,” Albon said.

“It has a lot of history and it’s one of the circuits I’ve been looking forward to most this year.”

On the other side of the Red Bull garage, Verstappen has already made his plan of attack to try to steal the victory that eluded him last year.

“Qualifying is pretty important because overtaking is not so easy,” Verstappen said. “The track is also quite hard on tyres, so you need to look after them throughout the race. As we saw in 2016, crazy weather can also happen.”

Fortunately for some, the weather looks good for race day.

The track itself is one of the shortest on the calendar, with lap times regularly cutting under 70 seconds as drivers contend with a snaking circuit devoid of much heavy braking.

Engine power is crucial for the long run from turn 18, down the start-finish straight and into turn one, but a strong aerodynamic set-up fares well through sector two.

Any one of the top six drivers has a chance today.

Find out who will take top honours this evening at 8.10pm.

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