2012 Brazilian GP - Interlagos

[stefan_]

Can't believe that it's the final race, the end of the season. It feels like yesterday when we were eagerly waiting for pictures from the first winter test to see the new cars.

[Intego]

It's tomorrow that we will be eagerly waiting ...

I would like to see a couple of off season racing with the drivers exchanging their cars or all on the same material (e.g. GP2 cars). What about a new thread on this idea?

[Nando]

Wasn't that only Sauber? Wuld be a nice gesture I guess.

BMW Sauber yea. They changed it to Danke Schumacher during the day as well.

[raymondu999]

The bigger question is, will we get a repeat of this?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MlsMVzrp2o[/youtube]

[Chuckjr]

Lewis should try and make the most of this race. It may be the last time he's in a competitive car for three years.

[Joie de vivre]

Maybe he won't be competitive next year, but don't forget about 2014 when new engines come, central exhaust and so on.

[dxpetrov]

McLaren will have a good chance in this race. They seem very competitive on these harder compounds. It was already shown in India when they switched from softs. I believe this is a sole reason they were as fast as RB and even faster at some stages, mostly on fresh rubber in the race.

[myurr]

Maybe he won't be competitive next year, but don't forget about 2014 when new engines come, central exhaust and so on.

That's really what he's based his decision on. He knows next year will be tough, but probably even hopes he'll be able to drag the car up to around Lotus' level. 2014 is when he's expecting the regulations to change massively, for the title challenging teams to have to split their resources between 2013/14, and that Mercedes are investing very heavily to build the team up. I can see 2013 as being their bedding in year, and 2014 being the year they target a title challenge. That's probably optimistic, but they have made some significant personnel changes, they've been putting in place the upgrades to their facilities, and maybe by being able to put more resources into their 2014 car they may have a shot at producing a top tier car.

Lest we forget that the 08/09 change in regulations was when Ferrari and McLaren had all their resources tied up in a title battle whilst Red Bull and Honda / Brawn were able to pile their resources into the new regulations. The same could end up being true for Mercedes whilst Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren all battle it out next year, and that's without Mercedes being able to gain an advantage through their engines.

The counter argument being that it really didn't work out like that for BMW! And there's no guarantee that Mercedes will produce the best engine out the box - but if I had to put money on any one of the engine providers having an advantage then it would be Mercedes.

[Guisson]

Chances of Showers sunday ! (about 5.7 mm)
This could be good for Fernando !

[KATO]

Chances of Showers sunday ! (about 5.7 mm)
This could be good for Fernando !

Fernando only won because Perez let him. We all heard the radio mssg and all the weird Ferrari stuff.. Also Perez clearly looked like he was letting off his good pace..

But also I'm pretty sure that Vettel and RedBull learned from that Rainy race.. So expect it to be an even fight Thankz to the rain we will see yet another "Divers Race" and not one where RedBulls 250million Budget shines through..

[Harvey]

Wasn't that only Sauber? Wuld be a nice gesture I guess.

BMW Sauber yea. They changed it to Danke Schumacher during the day as well.

I'm wondering if he'll have another special helmet made for this race, like his "race wins" one from '06. I'm hoping he'll go back to the beginning and have a replica of his first helmet from his trip in the Jordan. Although, I bought this up with my dad at the weekend and he said "He could just bring that one with all his wins on again. Wouldn't even need to change it at all..."

[raymondu999]

Chances of Showers sunday ! (about 5.7 mm)
This could be good for Fernando !

As I said before - I think the RB8 in its current spec is an underrated wet car.

[Cam]

Chances of Showers sunday ! (about 5.7 mm)
This could be good for Fernando !

As I said before - I think the RB8 in its current spec is an underrated wet car.

Can't plus one that (damn you trolls) - so here's a +1 in spirit.

After all thats been stated about the other cars, people still believe Ferrari are bullets in the rain.... I don't get this. From a marketing view I understand why people believe it, but from a rationale view theres simple no evidence to support it.

Would the rain and hence cooler temps, aide the RedBull alternator?

[Sombrero]

I do agree : wet or not it won't change the issue that much if Sebastian finishes. It's more a question of reliabilty for the Red Bull. Engine wise, it has been said that an "old" Ferrari engine has a greater power loss than an "old" Renault. That why Fernando is well behind Sebastian in these last races I guess...

[lukeaar]

This is a good visual representation of the championship possibilities:


Compared to Kimi's odds in 2007:


Source of images is 'nihilanth' on the formula 1 sub-reddit.