F1 Brazilian Grand Prix

[ChillDoubt]

Anyone watching? Won't give anything away for those watching BBC highlights later but it's getting very interesting with 16 laps to go.

[2sp_]

Mr P is currently watching the highlights. He's refusing to make me a cup of tea in case he misses something.

[Psybbo]

My lips are sealed

[Hopkirk]

They all drive round in circles very fast




(sorry if I spoilt it for anyone)

[ChillDoubt]

Your definition of a circle differs somewhat to the circuit layout Hopkirk!

[jourdain2]

I'm in here reading and typing this whilst OH is glued to the screen next door - hope it is interesting for him. I get told at length how it is all much more than driving round in circles and wasting petrol ............

[2sp_]

Dammit Hopkirk! You've ruined it for me! ;-)

Does anything exciting happen or am I safe to make my own tea?

[Psybbo]

Jourdain, at least you don't have to listen to tales of woe re American Football!

[jourdain2]

That sounds even worse, Psybbo.

[jourdain2]

Further to that --- it's better than football!

[Slapshot]

Race was a wee bit bland, after the spin any changes were going to be difficult but he nearly made got the but chapeau to Nico for staying ahead

[ChillDoubt]

Yep, must admit with 16 or so to go I reckoned Lewis would catch him but he was never able to quite manage it after that 'off' and Nico showed a determination and fortitude as he was chased down that he's lacked a little of late.

[jim360]

Possibly the fairest reflection of the weekend, though. Nico just had the edge in practice and qualifying so it's good for him to win a race. Just one more to go, that bizarre double-pointer. The gap is large enough that if Mercedes pull off their usual one-two then it'll be good enough for Hamilton to win either way, but third won't do for Lewis!

At least we've been spared a nightmare scenario though. If Rosberg had had to retire yesterday, Hamilton could have built up a massive 49-point lead... but of course a win next weekend gives 50 points, so if, say, Hamilton crashed out or had engine trouble in turn at Abu Dhabi, then Rosberg could have won the race and the championship by a single point!

Double-point races are either stupid, or they should have more than one dotted through the season.

[Bazile]

This double points in the last race is a sort elephant in the room .

In any other Formula 1 season, sixth in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 23 November would be enough for Hamilton to clinch his second world title, even if Rosberg won the race.

We could end up in a situation where the winner of 10 races in a season does not lift the title .

Only two other drivers - multiple champions Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, have ever won 10 races in a season and never before has the winner of even nine not won the championship.

Let's just hope that there are no reliability issues for the last race and strategy is good .

[Bazile]

Title permutaions for the final race

Hamilton

Finish ahead of Rosberg

Finish no lower than second if Rosberg wins

Finish fifth or better if Rosberg doesn't win

Finish sixth or better if Rosberg is not in the top two.

Finish eighth or better if Rosberg misses out on the podium

Finish ninth or better if Rosberg is fifth


Rosberg

Win the race with Hamilton third or lower

Finish second with Hamilton sixth or lower

Finish third with Hamilton seventh or lower

Finish fourth with Hamilton ninth or lower

Finish fifth with Hamilton 10th or lower

Should Hamilton not score any points, Rosberg still must finish no lower than fifth to overturn the 17-point deficit.