Mark Webber:
Very important win for me and the team to finish on a high I want to dedicate
this win to Bob Woods a friend of mine and my family.
1742 Felipe Massa might find himself in hot water there for doing some
donuts as he comes into the pit lane. Cheeky. Barrichello showing no signs
of a driver saying goodbye to the sport. My word Mark Webber looks
miserable…you’ve just won the grand prix…smile.
Lap 71 Webber the fastest man out there and he is on his final lap.
He’s claimed his sevenbth grand prix victory. Faultless race from the
Australian. Thoroughly deserved win. Vettel is second with Button third.
Alonso fourth and Massa fifth. Button told to stop the car immediately as
he’s critically low on fuel. Barrichello acknowledging the crowd at his home
GP where he’s finished 14th.
Telegraph Sport F1 correspondent Tom Cary:
“Happy for @AussieGrit – been a tough year for him. Hope he’s back
giving Vettel hell next season.”
Lap 70 well the message was pointless, Barrichello has overtaken Massa.
The Ferrari safe though as he is 17 seconds faster than Sutil who is behind
him in sixth.
Lap 69 Alosno on the radio to say his DRS is not working. Massa being
told to speed up as Barrichello is approaching him (a lap behind) but
Ferrari clearly not wanting their driver to become embroiled in the
Schumacher/Barrichello battle. And we all know their history.
Lap 68 No change at the front then Webber looks safe to claim his first
win of the season, he’s 13.8 seconds ahead of Vettel and this win will mean
an enormous amount to the Red Bull driver who’s spent the entire season in
his team-mate’s shadow. Barrichello’s still in 14th, do you think he’s done
enough to convince someone to give him a seat next season?
Lap 66 Traffic getting in Button’s way and he’s struggling to get to
Vettel now. Five laps to go, the McLaren is significantly faster but he
won’t have enough time to claim second unless Vettel’s gearbox gives up.
Lap 65 Liuzzi is out of the race. That’s the fourth retirement this
afternoon after Glock, Maldonado and Hamilton. Marshalls are out to move the
HRT car and the yellow flags are being waved.
Lap 64 Sutil having a great race in sixth for Force India, Mercedes not
having the greatest of afternoons are they? Rosberg in seventh and
Schumacher in 15th. Button being urged to push harder. The end of this race
is going to be tight.
1-5 Webber, Vettel, Button, Alonso, Massa
Lap 62 Vettel’s running wide after turn five. The German is 11 seconds
ahead of Button and the McLaren team have informed their driver of the Red
Bull’s problems. Seven laps to go, has he got enough time? Would imagine
not.
Lap 61-2 Button is trying and trying but for now Alonso is safe, wait
for turn 12 though. He’s done it! Button has overtaken Alonso and
there’s huge applause from the McLaren garage. Revenge is sweet for the
Briton.
Tony Fernandes:
“13 laps to go. come on boys. bring the cars home and we hit our target
when we started this 2 years ago. so damm nervous.”
Lap 60 further back Di Resta is in 8th place and Schumacher, what a
drive he’s come from the back to 15th and is closing in on Barrichallo in
14th.
Lap 59 Red Bull mechanics out for Vettel’s third and final stop. Button
now in the DRS zone to take Alonso.
1-5 Webber, Vettel, Alonso, Button, Massa
Lap 58 Alonso should be worried because Button is flying around the
track and now just two seconds behind the Ferrari. Webber preparing to come
in for his final stop and it’s executed to perfection by the Red Bull team.
Huge afternoon for the Australian driver if he can hold on for the win here.
Lewis Hamilton after retiring.
“I think been an interesting year. Today I gave it my all, I was enjoying
th race. It’s unfortunate not to get the points. I was challengeing Felipe
and I was hoping I would get him but the gearbox problem came. It’s been a
long year. Im looking forward to a little bit of down time and then
attacking next year. I have a lot to improve on.
Lap 55 Alonso has now pitted. Also out of the race are Timo Glock and
Pastor Maldonado. Button told he can do qualifying laps to the end. Webber
fastest 1:16:114
Lap 54 Alonso’s pace it slipping and that will ease Vettel’s worries
with regard to his gearbox. If you’re just joining us then to bring you up
to speed, Vettel was on pole but gave up the lead to team-mate Webber due to
gearbox problems, Lewis Hamilton is out of the race after his gear box
failed.
Lap 53 Jenson Button has pitted for a third time and is sticking with
the hard tyres. So McLaren’s day isn’t looking like it will finish as they
had hoped. One driver out and the other forced to make a third, and I
believe, unexpected stop. Webber 6.7 seconds ahead of Vettel.
Lap 51 twenty laps to go and Alonso continues to push on Vettel for
second place. Barrichello up to 13th, home crowd with be delighted for him
and it can’t do any harm to his bid for a seat next season.
1-5 Webber, Vettel Alonso Button, Massa
Lap 50 Fantastic duelling between Sutil and Rosberg for sixth place.
The Mercedes driver holding on and defending well.
Lap 47 LEWIS HAMILTON OUT OF THE RACE. The McLaren’s gearbox has given up
Lap 46 Massa now in the pits and it’s clinical from the Ferrari team.
Vettel told to do everything he can to save the car. The gearbox problem
remains “serious” and he’s warned for the third time this race
after he posts the fastest lap.
1-5 Webber, Vettel, Alonso, Button, Massa
Lap 45 Hamilton ends the lap coming into the pit and he’s taking the
medium compound tyres. he can finish the race with no more stops. The
McLaren stop sees him lose a place to Adrian Sutil and he’s now back in
seventh. Risky from McLaren.
Lap 44 Massa just about doing enough to hold Hamilton off at the
moment, but the Ferrari driver is the only one in the top five not to have
paid a second visit to the pits.
Lap 42 Timo Glock’s unsafe release from the pits is set to be
investigated after the race. Very nervous looking faces in the Ferrari
garage as they see Hamilton gaining on Massa for fifth.
Lap 40 Hamilton is creeping up on Massa and the gap is under a second
because the McLaren driver has his DRS open. Question is, can he overtake
without any contact? Kobayashi told he is closing in on Di Resta but to
approach with caution. Webber now three seconds clear of Vettel and is the
fastest man out there 1:16:484
1-5 Webber, Vettel, Alonso, Button, Massa
Lap 39 Webber pits from the lead and takes the soft option meaning he
will have to pit again before the end of the race. Button the only front
runner that seems to be set on the two stop race forn now. Button’s used the
DRS to make a move on Massa and he’s done it. Vettel pits.
Lap 37 Force India’s battling each other for eighth place and Sutil has
overtake Di Resta. Hamilton told he also has a gear box problem and there’s
precious little his team can do about it.
Lap 35 Home interests Barrichello is still in 15th while Senna has
slipped to 17th. Massa doing well to hold Button off in fourth. Vettel told
rain is coming and his team want him to stay out as long as possible on his
tyres.
Lap 34 Hamitlon pits for the soft options tyres and emerges in sixth
place behind Button.
1-5 Webber, Vettel, Alonso, Massa, Button, Hamilton
Lap 33 Hamilton is now up to fourth after Button’s stop. Just the two
retirements so far, Maldonado and Glock. Team computers now saying rain is
expected any time now. This is where it spices up. Bring on the rain.
Lap 32 Button makes his second pitstop but why so soon? he has 39 laps
to do on these if he is planning a two-stopper. Interesting.
1-5 Webber, Vettel, Alonso, Button, Hamilton
Becoming a regular? Ronaldo was at the Interlagos track two weeks after
attending the Abu Dhabi GP.
Lap 30 Vettel has let Webber overtake, Webber leads the race.
Lap 27 Another retirement it looks like as Maldonado crashes into the
barriers. Not serious but his day is over. Vettel has said he will give up
position to Webber is sounds like. “I won’t get in his way” it
sounded like he said. Schumacher up to 18th.
Lap 26 Sebastian Vettel told he has a serious gear box problem, not
looking good for the world champ then, is he pushing the car too much? This
could be Webber’s day after all. Gap between the two is just over two
seconds. Schumacher has climbed to 20th. Massa the only Brazilian in the top
14, Barrichello in 15th and Senna behind in 16th
1-5 Vettel, Webber Alonso, Button, Hamilton
Lap 22 first retirement of the grand prix and Timo Glock has called it
a day after his rear left tyre poppped off as he came out of the pits
Lap 21 Vettel is back in the lead having overtaken Massa, great driving
from the world champion. Schumacher is at the back of the pack after an
early puncture. Great overtake from Rosberg for ninth place. Massa the last
of the leaders to pit.
Lap 18 Bruno Senna handed a drive-through penalty for that collision
with Michael Schumacher….really harsh decision I think, looked klike a
driving accident to me and I doubt that will go down well with the crowd.
Massa now leads the race as Webber pits.
1-5 Webber Massa, Vettel, Alonso, Button
Lap 17 Alonso and Hamilton are now in the pits, radio messages
suggesting thet tyres are blistering but no more than expected at this
stage. Alonso emerges in front of Button. Vettel pits at the end of the lap
and iut’s very fast from the Red Bull team.
1-5 Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Massa
Lap 16 Jenson Button has come into the pits so the three stop race
seems likely for the majority. Tyres over heating.
Lap 14 Vettel now 3.2 seconds ahead of Webber and the Red Bulls are
running away with the early lead here. Alonso in third is over 10 seconds
behind the German. But hold on Sebastian Vettel told he has a gear box
problem!
Lap 12 drivers reporting that rear tyres are struggling to cope with
conditions and it seems pit stops will happen earlier than expected. Senna
has now pitted.
1-5 Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Button, Hamilton
Lap 11 Incredible driving from Alonso he’s just overtaken Button on the
OUTSIDE! How did the McLaren driver allow that to happen!? Schumacher and
Senna under investigation and the mercedes is back out on the track.
Lap 10 and there’s been some contact between Schumacher and Senna and
the german has a back left puncture. Senna looks to have come through
unscathed but may be in need of a new front wing. Schumacher on his way to
the pits.
Lap 9 no rain expected for at least the bext 30 minutes team radios are
reporting. That’s great news for the Red Bulls.
Tony Fernandes on Twitter: “good start for heikki.no kers is costing
us. but heikki keeping pace with maldanado . no rain at the moment”
Lap 7 Button looks to have found some pace and is pulling away from
Alonso. Barrichello has climbed two place towards the back and is up to
17th.
Lap 6 Michael Schumacher gaining on Bruno Senna for ninth place but the
German is struggling with his understeer and needs to make the move sooner
rather than later. Paul di Resta is behind the Mercedes. Vettel’s lead up to
3.2 seconds.
Lap 5 Alonso is gaining on Button for thirdf place, wonderul driving
from the Ferrari so far and Massa’s not doing to badly either. Could be
trouble ahead as the Brazilian driver is chasing Lewis Hamilton…one more
collision to cap the season off? Hamilton’s pace is poor.
Lap 2 Not a good start for Brazil’s Rubens Barrichello who started in
12th place and is back in 19th. Vettel already 2.2 seconds ahead of the pack
and is the fastest man out there with a lap time of 1:18:24
First lap: Webber came under pressure from Button but held position
from the start there. Ferrari have made a great start, Alonso got past
Hamilton for fourth place. Vettel’s taken a huge lead already.
1-8 Vettel, Webber, Button, Alosno, Hamilton, Massa, Rosberg, Sutil
1558 hearing that chances of the expected rain are significantly
reduced and we could just get through the race without a drop. Driver out
for their formation lap. Come on Brazil let’s finish with a cracker!
1556 as a foot note to that, if the rain does come and it’s heavy I’ll
back the McLarens to take a one-two, Button first.
1554 almost race time, and now for some predictions and I’m going for
Sebastian Vettel to finish the season as he started it. So long as the rain
holds off I think both Red Bulls will remain at the front of the pack with
Jenson Button in third. What do you think?
How they start:
1st row
- Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull-Renault)
- Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull-Renault)
2nd row
- Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
- Lewis Hamilton (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
3rd row
- Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari)
- Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes)
4th row
- Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari)
- Adrian Sutil (GER/Force India-Mercedes)
5th row
- Bruno Senna (BRA/Lotus-Renault)
- Michael Schumacher (GER/Mercedes)
6th row
- Paul di Resta (SCO/Force India-Mercedes)
- Rubens Barrichello (BRA/Williams-Cosworth)
7th row
- Jaime Alguersuari (ESP/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
- Sibastien Buemi (SUI/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
8th row
- Vitaly Petrov (RUS/Lotus-Renault)
- Kamui Kobayashi (JPN/Sauber-Ferrari)
9th row
- Sergio Perez (MEX/Sauber-Ferrari)
- Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Cosworth)
10th row
- Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/Team Lotus)
- Jarno Trulli (ITA/Team Lotus)
11th row
- Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA/Hispania-Cosworth)
- Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Hispania-Cosworth)
12th row
- Jirtme d’Ambrosio (BEL/Virgin-Cosworth)
- Timo Glock (GER/Virgin-Cosworth)
Here’s the vital stats for the Interlagos track:
Circuit length: 4.309km/2.677 miles
Laps: 71
Race distance: 305.909km/190.082
Lap record: 1min 11.473secs (Juan Pablo Montoya, 2004)
2010 winner: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 pole position: Nico Hulkenberg (Williams) 1min 14.470secs
2010 fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 1min 13.851secs
Tyre compounds to be used: Medium/soft
Bumpiness: Medium
Overtaking chance: Low
Engine severity: Medium
Brake severity: Medium
Number of corners: 15 (10 left/5 right)
1545 it’s also a landmark race for another driver on home turf. Felipe
Massa completes 10 years in Formula One today and is also driving his 100th
Grand Prix for Ferrari.
Here’s what the Ferrari driver is saying about the race: “It can
rain, we have to be ready for everything, it will be a long difficult race.
But we must make a good result for the fans.”
1535: Good morning/afternoon/evening wherever you are joining me from
for the season finale. I can’t quite believe the season is just a few hours
from being over…what will we all do on Sundays now!? Plenty to discuss so
far this weekend. Mr Vettel has YET AGAIN claimed another record. He did
that yesterday in qualifying where he took pole and has now over take Nigel
Mansell in the standings for most poles in a season. He’s now had 15.
Would you say he is the driver of the season? Difficult to think who could
come close. Take a look at our Formula One 2011 season awards and cast your
votes for all the categories. You
can vote here
Besides the German stealing the headlines as he has almost every race weekend
since March, Rubens Barrichello is also a popular talking point. Today he
completes his 19th season on home turf and is yet to find out if he has a
seat next season…here’s what the drivers have had to say about the
Brazilian.
Sebastian Vettel: “I think it would be a shame to lose Rubens for
the future because he belongs here,” said Red Bull’s Vettel, who was
only five years old when Barrichello made his F1 debut in 1993, after taking
a record 15th pole for the season in the Brazilian finale. “The
inspiring bit is that he loves what he does.”
Jenson Button: “It’s great that he still wants to race,” he
said. “I really hope he gets a drive next year, I hope he’s racing next
year because otherwise we’ve missed a really big party on Sunday night.”
Mark Webber: “Rubens has been an amazing man for our sport. He’s
been through incredibly difficult times, particularly 1994 (when compatriot
and mentor Ayrton Senna died) and had some great moments as well.
“I think seeing him crying on the podium at Hockenheim after that amazing
drive from the back of the grid (to take his first win with Ferrari in 2000)
is how we always love seeing Rubens and that’s how he genuinely is anyway.
“Obviously this year he hasn’t had a very competitive car but it would be
great to have him around again next year.”