2012 Brazilian GP - Interlagos

[f1316]

On the Massa being faster than Alonso thing, part of Massa's style has always been late-braking and I think that, much like with Lewis Hamilton, contributed to allowing him to heat of the tyres well. MSC in qualifying, likewise.

[Diosfenix]

Fernando win

[raymondu999]

On the Massa being faster than Alonso thing, part of Massa's style has always been late-braking and I think that, much like with Lewis Hamilton, contributed to allowing him to heat of the tyres well. MSC in qualifying, likewise.

I'm not sure it's so much late braking as heavy trail braking. I don't remember Massa being an especially late braker - but he always stood out whenever trail braking was a big issue. Sepang, Brazil, Turkey, Bahrain - all trail braking circuits.

In qualifying it certainly would account for a large part of things. I think the braking helped him a lot in Austin qualifying as it got heat into his tyres quicker. But how about races? Those are a different ballgame.

[Gerhard Berger]

To be honest right now I think the Red Bull is underrated in the wet, and the Ferrari slightly overrated. The last competitive wet session in Hockenheim qualifying went to Ferrari - but it was very close, despite a Vettel mistake, and the Ferrari bolting on a fresh set of inters mid-Q3.

Rain could mix things up - but I don't think (in terms of Red Bull vs Ferrari) it will mix things up as much as people think it will. Nor in terms of the title race.

If you added up Vettel's best sectors in Hockenheim he would have beaten Alonso in Q3. If you added up Webber's best sector times at Silverstone he would have beaten Alonso in Q3. The Red Bull is definitely quick in the wet, and probably more so since the Singapore/Suzuka update.

Also, worryingly for Ferrari is that they have had trouble warming up the tyres in recent races. This wouldn't bode well for a wet race or wet qualifying.

[raymondu999]

yeah that's what I meant. People are writing off a wet race as handing the title to Alonso on a silver platter. Whereas I don't believe that will be the case.

[bhall]

yeah that's what I meant. People are writing off a wet race as handing the title to Alonso on a silver platter. Whereas I don't believe that will be the case.

Nor do I. It would certainly help matters for Alonso, because anything that lends itself to unpredictability always helps the underdog. But, wet weather is far from a guarantee.

[raymondu999]

yeah that's what I meant. People are writing off a wet race as handing the title to Alonso on a silver platter. Whereas I don't believe that will be the case.

Nor do I. It would certainly help matters, because anything that lends itself to unpredictability always helps the underdog. But, wet weather is far from a guarantee.

If I'm reading you correctly - which I think I am - basically the rain is giving Vettel a bigger chance to c*ck it up. But I don't think it will hamper Vettel in terms of competitiveness, the way it sort of did (relative to Alonso's Ferrari) in Sepang.

[bhall]

What I meant is that with a 13-point lead, there are more possible scenarios for Vettel to walk away from Interlagos as World Champion than there are for Alonso to do the same. So, if the action on track is allowed to proceed "normally," as is the case in a dry race, that would tend to favor Vettel, because he doesn't need any outside help whatsoever to win the title.

That's not the case for Alonso. He needs to outperform Vettel by at least 14 points, which means he needs a Vettel screw-up, or another screw-up that inadvertently hampers Vettel, or another driver or two to have fluky days in which they're able to just straight up beat Vettel on-track in order to walk away as Champion. Any and each of those scenarios would be assisted by the wild card that is a wet race.

[Gerhard Berger]

Alonso's never really been able to finish a season a huge high though. In 2005 it was more just making his points lead last and waiting for McLarens to explode, and 2006 was also really given to him by Schumi's retirements (again finishing behind Massa at Interlagos).

You could also argue that he's never had the fastest car, or maybe only for short periods, although 2007 was pretty close I think.

In 2005 his car was the best for the first 4 races. Once we got to Europe it seemed Mclaren had the edge, but Alonso was consistant and took full advantage of all the reliability problems that Mclaren had. However, he did win the last race in China.

In 2006 it was a tale of two halves. In the first half Renault was brilliant, in the second half Renault got overtaken by Ferrari.

2010 though, he finished the season very strongly.

[raymondu999]

Alonso's never really been able to finish a season a huge high though. In 2005 it was more just making his points lead last and waiting for McLarens to explode, and 2006 was also really given to him by Schumi's retirements (again finishing behind Massa at Interlagos).

You could also argue that he's never had the fastest car, or maybe only for short periods, although 2007 was pretty close I think.

In 2005 his car was the best for the first 4 races. Once we got to Europe it seemed Mclaren had the edge, but Alonso was consistant and took full advantage of all the reliability problems that Mclaren had. However, he did win the last race in China.

In 2006 it was a tale of two halves. In the first half Renault was brilliant, in the second half Renault got overtaken by Ferrari.

2010 though, he finished the season very strongly.

I think f1316 is talking more of "the last race" rather than "the last few races"

[Intego]

I guess Massa should be faster than Alonso here. If that happens and Massa qualifies higher then Alonso then what strategies Ferrari will apply this time to benefit Alonso.

Karthikeyan again?

[fritticaldi]

I have a feeling Massa will have a big weekend. Ever since he obtained his contract extension at Ferrari the Brazilian has regained that aggressiveness that characterized him prior to that accident which almost claimed his life.

[PlatinumZealot]

Race results:

1. ALO
2. HAM
3. BUT
4. MAS
5. VET
6. RAI
7. GRO
8. ROS
9. WEB
10. MSC

[FrukostScones]

It will rain, it will be a sequence of drama, the race will have a winner, the WDC will have a winner, my list of possible winners: HAM, ALO, VET, PER, RIC, HUL, SEN.

Craziest ending (not that I wish it): VET DNF, then ALO while 3rd gets overtaken in last corner(s) by RIC pushing him to fourth.

[NathanOlder]

I think Hamilton will win, But If he doesnt, I hope Alonso wins. Then we can watch Massa play the perfect team mate and back Vettel up. Into the likes of Button, Webber, Grosjean, Kimi, Maldonado, Perez. If Vettel goes for a 50/50 Massa will have him off the road! Oh what a story that would be!