What's at stake at Interlagos for Renault?

The world over, motor racing enthusiasts are holding their breath. As the paddock gathers one last time in 2006, in the cramped paddock of Interlagos, everybody knows that this is title showdown time.

In the blue corner are Fernando Alonso and the Renault F1 Team. They are leading both championships, with leads of 10 and 9 points respectively. In the red corner, Michael Schumacher and Ferrari. They may be behind, but as the last two races have shown, and as Murray Walker used to say, anything can happen in Formula 1 – and it usually does… The Reds have won titles at the final race before, and this is the final race in more ways than one. Fernando’s drive on Sunday will be his last as a Renault driver, but for Michael Schumacher, it will be his last ever. From the first practice laps to the last lap of the race and the chequered flag, spectators can expect a dramatic, thrilling weekend.

After winning two weeks ago in Suzuka, the Renault F1 Team is approaching the race with the firm intention of changing absolutely nothing in the way they go about their business. Fernando will be going all out for victory this weekend. There will be no cautious approach, no prudent strategy; it’s all about winning in style and giving the team a perfect leaving present. The Spaniard will run with a D5 specification engine, against the E spec V8 that Fisico will be using, to ensure maximum reliability in this final race.

As for Michael Schumacher, he will reach the end of the long road of his Formula 1 career on Sunday. He is determined to leave the sport he has dominated on a high. After the race in Suzuka, he admitted that he felt the drivers’ crown was lost to him – but make no mistake, he will seize any opportunity that comes his way. He will be counting on the support of a fired-up team-mate in Felipe Massa, who will also be running in front of his home crowd…

So who else might come and mix it up at the front? First and foremost, the weather. The teams are expecting a cool weekend in Brazil, and there may even be rain on Friday. On the track, the McLaren of Kimi Raikkonen is likely to be the main threat, as the Finn has scored a number of pole positions this year, and could have threatened in more races were it not for the sometimes uncertain reliability of his car. The Hondas may also be gunning for glory: Jenson Button wants to round off a season of highs and lows in the right way, while Rubens Barrichello will have the extra power of home support behind him…

Everybody, though, will have to avoid the many traps that Interlagos can set for the unwary. The bumps, the long, demanding straights, a tricky first corner: anything can happen until the race has run its course…