Brasil GP 2012 - Race - the last one!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

McLaren has taken the front row, they are definitely quicker than everyone else.  Webber is ahead of Vettel as Red Bull has row two but Alonso couldn’t do better than 8th;  Massa, Maldonado and Hulkenberg were faster than him. Maldonado ignored a signal to stop at the ‘weight bridge’ and was handed a 10-grid position penalty. DiResta will now move to the top 10. Hamilton is the only driver in 2012 to reach Q3 in every GP.

We finished the year in typical QF-low-scoring fashion; only five members reached 2 points and nine other had singles. This result crowns Fernando as our best qualifier of 2012 with 22 total points (that’s only 1.1 points per race- what a tough year it was!). I was second with 19 and Rocco third with 18. Congratulations to our 2010 CFA Champion Fernando for taking the first award of the season.

The grid for tomorrow:

HAM  BUT  WEB  VET  MAS  HUL  ALO  RAI  ROS DIR

This is the picture: Alonso most step in the podium if he’s got any chance to be champion. For Vettel, he’s got to finish 4th if Alonso wins, 7th if Alonso is 2nd or 9th if Alonso is 3rd. If the race is stopped before the programmed 71 laps and only half points are awarded Vettel will win automatically.

In commanding position is Vettel with his 13 point lead and a faster car, though there are reliability concerns. Alonso has been talking for some time of keeping the title open until the last race, now his wishes are granted with an added element of fortune: 90% chances of rain Sunday between 2 and 4pm local time. “We need a chaotic race” he declared, and looks that it could be exactly like that tomorrow.  The Safety Car has been used 7 of the last 10 Brazilian GPs.

Modern day F1 cars change only a few setting for wet races: ride height and brake-cooling ducts, plus minor aero tweaks. The set up remains basically unchanged, it is driver skill that makes the difference. Several drivers had dialed their cars for full wet weather settings: Schumacher in his farewell F1 race, both Saubers  and Alonso (not Massa). Vettel will start in a compromised setting; Red Bull knows their improved rear downforce will give them an advantage managing the rain-weather tyres.

Ferrari has lost 2 Championships in the last race in the last 4 four years, but they won one with Raikkonen in Brazil ’07 with a 15 point disadvantage. The poleman has won only 2 of the last 10, both times Massa (’02  & ’08).

My dear colleagues, let’s get ready for the end of a fabulous year and last shot at glory. One last opportunity to add your name to 2012 winners’ list, an honour so far by Rocco, Uwe, Tim, Joe, Fredrik, Matias & Manbos (2 wins); Maria, Rodrigo, Ricardo, Ian & Alberto (one win).

So, who’s going to win the race? who’s going to win the Championship? ...is your heart doing the picks? One thing is for sure, we’ll be all connected tomorrow, Brazilian time.

Cato – HAM ALO  BUT  MAS  RAI  VET

Good luck, enjoy!

 

 

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