2016 Abu Dhabi GP - Post Race Press Conference

2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix review

The 2016 season is now over and we have a new world champion. Congratulations to Nico Rosberg! His father Keke Rosberg won the championship in 1982 which makes them the second father and son champions in F1 history. The first duo were of course Graham and Damon Hill. Damon Hill won his championship 20 years ago in 1996.

But what happened in the 2016 season's last race? Here is my review...

After the formation lap both Lewis Hamilton and his teammate and childhood friend Rosberg parked their cars in the grid in an angle pointing at the middle of the track.

When the lights went out Hamilton stayed in the lead followed by Rosberg and Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen who overtook Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo.

Ricciardo's teammate Max Verstappen had contact with Force India's Nico Hulkenberg and spun. He dropped to the back but I knew that he would still be in the podium fight later on. No doubt about it.

Verstappen said that Hulkenberg didn't leave him enough room but he was almost outside of the track and Verstappen had the rest of the track on his left side. I would say that Hulkenberg left him enough room.

It was Felipe Massa's last race in Formula One but we didn't see anything spectacular from him. He got overtaken by his younger teammate Valtteri Bottas which made me think that maybe it was a good time for Massa to retire. He is still a good driver but he hasn't been hungry for 2 years.

This race was also probably the last of the 2009 world champion Jenson Button. It would have been nice to see him perform well but retired on lap 12. I hope he will come back in 2018. Mika Hakkinen also said that he will come back in 2003 after leaving F1 in 2001 but he never did. Räikkönen replaced him and that was the end of it.

On lap 20 my heart nearly stopped when Verstappen and Rosberg were fighting for 2nd place. Verstappen hadn't pitted yet and had made his way almost to the top. They almost had contact and could have made Hamilton champion right then and there. I am glad that it didn't happen like that.

Ferrari had been faster than Red Bull all weekend but got in front of them because of their smart pit strategy once again.

Sebastian Vettel had different tyres on than his teammate Räikkönen and was much faster. The Finn let Vettel pass him without any drama what so ever. Vettel had one of his best races this season in my opinion.

Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz got hit from behind by Reanult's Jolyon Palmer. A stupid mistake and Sainz race was ruined. His teammate Daniil Kvyat also had bad luck and retired from the race. Kvyat's season started with him driving a Red Bull and it ended with him driving himself to the garage on a bicycle with Toro Rosso overalls.

Hamilton didn't have anything to lose so he tried to slow down so that the other drivers behind Rosberg could overtake him. Rosberg drove like the champion that he is and nobody could pass him. The only one who lost in this game was Verstappen because Vettel caught him and did a beautiful overtaking maneuver for 3rd place.

Mercedes told Hamilton to drive faster but he told them that there is no need; he is leading the race. Everybody knew what was going on and they didn't think that he was a team player. This might get ugly behind the scenes. They were really angry with Hamilton. Verstappen said that he would have done the same as Hamilton.

The race finished with the top4 drivers right behind each other. One of the closest finishes in a long while.

Now let's see my predictions and the results:

Pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - CORRECT

Race:

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - CORRECT
2. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes - CORRECT
3. Max Verstappen, Red Bull - WRONG. He was 4th and Vettel was 3rd.

Fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - WRONG. Vettel was fastest.

Surprise: Kimi Räikkönen. Leave him alone he knows what he's doing! - Ferrari seemed to be better than Red Bull in Abu Dhabi. Just a pity that Räikkönen's strategy messed up his race a bit.

That was my last grand prix review this year. My next one will be in March and I can not wait for the next season to start! It will be totally different and we might get a totally new team that dominates. Mercedes wont be dominating anymore! At least I hope so.

Thanks guys for reading and see you around on our Facebook page!

2016 PREDICTORS LEAGUE final standings

1. Larry Gallagher - 236 points

2. AE (F1-4-LIFE) - 190 points

3. James Redman - 175 points

4. PM (F1-4-LIFE) - 135 points

5. DL (F1-4-LIFE) - 84 points

6. JT (F1-4-LIFE) - 77 points

7. Leonardo Machado - 63 points

8. Vitor Lobo - 46 points

9. JI (F1-4-LIFE) - 15 points

10. Denis Borges Nastasi - 13 points

11. Dylan Curry - 3 points

(The ones who have not scored points are not on the list)

Come onboard in the next GP if you want to be a part of our league!

POINTS: 1st - 3
2nd - 5
3rd - 10

+ possible bonus points

HOW IT WORKS: the aim of the game is simply predict who comes where in the race (top3). A total of 18 points can be won on a race day. For example if you get winner and and 3rd place right but 2nd wrong you get 13 points.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PREDICTIONS: send an email to f14lifeblog@gmail.com or message the Facebook page to submit your predictions. You have until lights out to make them. If you submit them when the race has started they won't count. So be quick!

THE PRIZE: the winner of the league will win themselves a admin place on the F1 4 LIFE page along side AE, JT, MW, MH, JI & PM. If you don't want to be an admin you are welcome to participate anyway.

2016 drivers final standings

2016 constructors final standings

2016 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX - Race results

2016 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX - Qualifying

2016 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX - Third practice session



2016 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX - Second practice session

2016 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX - First practice session

2016 Abu Dhabi - Drivers Press Conference

The 2016 title permutations for Abu Dhabi

F1 Circuit Guide | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2016

Take a look at the circuit guide from this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYZxFsQBSZI

Ericsson to stay at Sauber for 2017

Sauber have extended their contract with Marcus Ericsson through to 2017, leaving just three seats on the grid still open for next season.

The deal means Ericsson will spend a third straight year with the Swiss team, for whom he has raced for all but one year of his F1 career - his debut season with Caterham back in 2014. While the Swede is yet to score points this year, he took a best finish of eighth last year in Australia.

"It is great news that I will be racing for another year for the Sauber F1 Team," Ericsson said. "I have spent two years with Sauber now, and I really feel at home. A big thanks to everyone within the team for trusting in me again.

"From a personal point of view, I have developed a lot as a driver during my time at Sauber. We have had ups and downs, but we always stick together and work as hard as we can.

"Since the new ownership, there has been a positive push in the team, so it will also be exciting to go into this new era. Many motorsport experts are becoming part of Sauber, which is a good sign for the future.

"For 2017 my aim is to build on my performance from the second half of this season, and to continue working hard with the team. I cannot wait for the 2017 season, so that we can make our way up to the midfield with the objective to score points on a regular basis."

Team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said Ericsson's clear development - and his dedication even during troubled times for the team - made him a stand-out candidate.

"We are very pleased to announce that Marcus will remain our race driver for the Sauber F1 Team in 2017," Kaltenborn commented.

"During the current season Marcus has again showed he is willing to go that extra mile in order to make progress. He went through very difficult times with us, but managed those very well.

"In the last two years, he has made significant steps in regards to his personal development, proving his skills on as well as off track, especially when circumstances are not easy. He is not only a good driver, but also an important team player who understands how to work with the team and how to motivate everyone with his positive attitude.

"Formula One goes into a new era in 2017, and I am confident that we can count on Marcus to bring the team back into the competition."

Sauber said they will announce their second driver 'in due course'. Only two other F1 seats - both at Manor - remain open for 2017.

(source: f1.com)

2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix preview

Wow! The season's final race is almost here. A little while ago we were all waiting for the season to start and now it's almost over! Time flies when we are having fun (watching F1).

Not much to say about Abu Dhabi so I will talk about the same things as last year:

The Yas Marina track has hosted the Abu Dhabi GP 7 times in it's history so it's quite new. The facilities are one of the best in the world at least for me as a spectator. It is the only GP that has daylight and darkness in the same race.

In 2010 Sebastian Vettel won his first world championship when Alonso couldn't get pass Vitaly Petrov. It was one of the most moving moments of Vettel's career when he cried on the podium.

After winning his first championship in 2010.

In 2011 he had already won the championship when the Formula One circus returned to Abu Dhabi. That race he retired right after the start and the whole crowd in Abu Dhabi cheered. The sound was quite loud, trust me, I was there.

In 2012 Sebastian started from the back of the grid but managed to get 3rd place. Alonso was second and Kimi Räikkönen took the maiden victory for the new Team Lotus. Everybody remembers the classic radio conversations between Kimi and Alan Permane.

Here is a video with the radio conversations:

They made t-shirts of Kimi's comments.

In 2013 Sebastian Vettel had already secured his championship before Abu Dhabi. In 2014 the story was different - it was between two friends, teammates and almost brothers, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton when they were younger.

In 2015 Hamilton had secured the championship already but Rosberg had been beating him in the past five qualifyings and the past two races. Rosberg continued to beat Hamilton in Abu Dhabi.

This year Rosberg is in the championship lead and most likely will be champion. Hamilton might win the race but it wont be enough if Rosberg finishes on the podium. If Rosberg retires it will be a totally different story but I don't believe that.


Now let's see my predictions:

Pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

Race:

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
3. Max Verstappen, Red Bull

Fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

Surprise: Kimi Räikkönen. Leave him alone he knows what he's doing!

Post your own predictions to our F1-4-LIFE PREDICTORS LEAGUE!

The rules:

POINTS:  1st - 3  2nd - 5  3rd - 10 

HOW IT WORKS: the aim of the game is simply predict who comes where in the race (top3). A total of 18 points can be won on a race day. If you get winner and and 3rd place right but 2nd wrong you get 13 points same if you get 1 correct. eg. 2nd you get 5 points. If a driver wins the race and you said he would come 2nd or 3rd no points would be awarded. Same if he came in another position, and you predicted that wrong. A table will be posted up every race weekend. The point scoring system will change once the cars become more competitive. Everyone will say a merc 1,2 so it won't be close or fun. 

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PREDICTIONS: send an email to f14lifeblog@gmail.com or message the Facebook page to submit your predictions. You have until lights out to make them. If you submit them when the race has started they won't count. So be quick! like the Mercedes. 

THE PRIZE: the winner of the league will win themselves a admin place on the F1 4 LIFE page along side AE, JT, MW, MH, JI, PM and DL. If you don't want to be an admin you are welcome to participate anyway. We may also come up with some other prize if it helps. 

That's it for today and if you want to send me feedback then email me: f14lifeblog@gmail.com

Rosberg, Hamilton take identical tyre selections to title showdown

Grill The Grid - Pascal Wehrlein

MiniDrivers - 8x20 - 2016 Brazilian GP

2016 Brazilian GP full race

2016 PREDICTORS LEAGUE standings after the Brazilian GP

1. Larry Gallagher - 208 points

2. AE (F1-4-LIFE) - 172 points

3. James Redman - 162 points

4. PM (F1-4-LIFE) - 135 points

5. DL (F1-4-LIFE) - 84 points

6. JT (F1-4-LIFE) - 77 points

7. Leonardo Machado - 63 points

8. Vitor Lobo - 46 points

9. JI (F1-4-LIFE) - 15 points

10. Denis Borges Nastasi - 13 points

11. Dylan Curry - 3 points

(The ones who have not scored points are not on the list)

Come onboard in the next GP if you want to be a part of our league!

POINTS: 1st - 3
2nd - 5
3rd - 10

+ possible bonus points

HOW IT WORKS: the aim of the game is simply predict who comes where in the race (top3). A total of 18 points can be won on a race day. For example if you get winner and and 3rd place right but 2nd wrong you get 13 points.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PREDICTIONS: send an email to f14lifeblog@gmail.com or message the Facebook page to submit your predictions. You have until lights out to make them. If you submit them when the race has started they won't count. So be quick!

THE PRIZE: the winner of the league will win themselves a admin place on the F1 4 LIFE page along side AE, JT, MW, MH, JI & PM. If you don't want to be an admin you are welcome to participate anyway.

2016 Brazilian Grand Prix review

The weather had a big impact on the race start. Before the race had even started Haas driver Romain Grosjean crashed his car when making his way to the grid. He did not even start the race and was disappointed.

When the race started it was still raining and they had to drive behind the safety car for 7 laps. It is good to be safe but it is extremely boring when races start like that.

Now it was time to start the race for real! Red Bull's Max Verstappen was ready and overtook Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen for 3rd. Reanult's Kevin Magnussen did a little gambling and decided to pit for intermediates. Most of the drivers did the same.

On lap 11 Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel spun and almost crashed in the wall. He also decided to pit for intermediate tyres.

Lap 13 was already here and Sauber's Marcus Ericsson crashed in the wall by the pit entry. The safety car was deployed and Red Bull asked their drivers to pit quickly.

Verstappen was the first one to pit and almost hit Ericsson's car when coming in. The race control closed the pit entry but Daniel Ricciardo didn't see the red lights and also pitted just barely dodging Ericsson's car. He got a 5 second penalty for it.

On lap 20 the race continued and right away we could see Raikkonen's car sliding cross the main straight into the wall. He retired and almost got hit by several cars. The race was red flagged (stopped). It was extremely dangerous and he was lucky that nobody crashed into him. When somebody crashes into your car 300km/h it is very possible that somebody gets killed. Vettel also said on the radio that it's too dangerous and it was impossible to see anything.

The race continued later on behind the safety car for 8 laps and the race was red flagged again. Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Williams' Valtteri Bottas asked on the radio why the race was stopped because they could have easily continued. Bottas said something like "it's only raining so why stop". I guess British and Finnish drivers are more used to rain than others because of their climate back home.

Later on they continued behind the safety car for 4 laps and started racing again. Verstappen was most ready again and overtook Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg for 2nd place.

7 laps later Verstappen almost crashed and Rosberg couldn't still overtake the young dutchman. Superb effort from Verstappen avoiding a crash and also staying in front of the championship leader.

Verstappen decided to pit for intermediates on lap 44 and now also Rosberg had some excitement when he almost spun. It was very slippery even with full wet tyres. I guess Pirelli hasn't done very good work with the tyres but who can blame them when they aren't allowed to test.

Now on lap 48 Williams Felipe Massa crashed and the safety car was deployed again. It was an emotional moment for him because it was his last home grand prix. The fans were holding up signs saying "Obrigado Felipe" (Portuguese for thank you Felipe). He walked back to his garage and everybody in the pits were hugging him and giving him respect for his career.

When the safety car had gone back in, the race could continue and Verstappen pitted for wet tyres this time. It looked very difficult to even get points now because he dropped to 15th place. He proved everybody wrong and overtook 12 cars one by one and finished 3rd! Spectacular driving! He was best of the rest after the Mercs but in my opinion he was the best driver in this race. He also was voted driver of the day on f1.com. Many legendary drivers have shown their superstardom driving like that in the rain. I would be surprised if Verstappen never wins a championship in his career.

Here are my predictions and the results:

Pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - CORRECT

Race:

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - CORRECT
2. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes - CORRECT
3. Max Verstappen, Red Bull - CORRECT

Fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - WRONG. It was Verstappen.

Surprise: Felipe Massa will have a great weekend - Probably had a good feeling saying good buy to his fans but the race wasn't good for him.

Post your own predictions to our F1-4-LIFE PREDICTORS LEAGUE!

The rules:

POINTS:  1st - 3  2nd - 5  3rd - 10 

HOW IT WORKS: the aim of the game is simply predict who comes where in the race (top3). A total of 18 points can be won on a race day. If you get winner and and 3rd place right but 2nd wrong you get 13 points same if you get 1 correct. eg. 2nd you get 5 points. If a driver wins the race and you said he would come 2nd or 3rd no points would be awarded. Same if he came in another position, and you predicted that wrong. A table will be posted up every race weekend. The point scoring system will change once the cars become more competitive. Everyone will say a merc 1,2 so it won't be close or fun. 

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PREDICTIONS: send an email to f14lifeblog@gmail.com or message the Facebook page to submit your predictions. You have until lights out to make them. If you submit them when the race has started they won't count. So be quick! like the Mercedes. 

THE PRIZE: the winner of the league will win themselves a admin place on the F1 4 LIFE page along side AE, JT, MW, MH, JI and PM. If you don't want to be an admin you are welcome to participate anyway. We may also come up with some other prize if it helps. 

That's it for today and if you want to send me feedback then email me: f14lifeblog@gmail.com

2016 Driver Standings after the Brazilian GP

2016 Constructors Standings after the Brazilian GP

FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO DO BRASIL 2016 - Race results

FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO DO BRASIL 2016 - Qualifying

FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO DO BRASIL 2016 - Third practice session

FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO DO BRASIL 2016 - Second practice session

FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO DO BRASIL 2016 - First practice session

2016 Brazil GP. Drivers Press Conference

How Rosberg can win the title in Brazil

History can be made this weekend in Brazil - triumph, and Nico Rosberg will secure himself a first Formula One world championship crown. In fact there are seven ways in which the German can clinch the title at Interlagos, as we detail below...

                                                 
As the graphic indicates, the title is in Rosberg's hands. With a 19-point margin over Lewis Hamilton heading into Brazil, victory would give the German an unassailable points lead - and therefore the 2016 crown. If that were to happen, he would be only the second son-of-a-past-champion to take the title himself - the only other time this has happened in history was with Graham Hill (champion in 1962 and 1966) and son Damon (champion in 1996).

Rosberg can also win the title if:
He finishes second, and Hamilton is fourth or lower
He finishes third, and Hamilton is sixth or lower
He finishes fourth, and Hamilton is seventh or lower
He finishes fifth, and Hamilton is eighth or lower
He finishes sixth, and Hamilton is ninth or lower
He finishes seventh, and Hamilton finishes outside the top 10

On the flip side, should Hamilton triumph, he would guarantee the title goes down to the wire in Abu Dhabi - which would be the second time in three years that the two men have contested a world championship crown at Yas Marina.

History isn't exactly on Hamilton's side though - the Briton has nine starts in Brazil, but is still yet to win. Conversely Rosberg has won the last two races in the country...

(source: f1.com)

Lewis Hamilton interview with Fiona Bruce (2016)

F1 2016 Mexican GP. JP Montoya interviews Kimi Räikkönen

2016 Brazilian Grand Prix preview

The 2003 Brazilian GP was slippery.

How many can remember the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2003 when most of the cars retired the race and Alonso was taken to the hospital? Let's hope nothing like that happens.

When the 2003 race at Interlagos was red flagged there was only two men on the podium: Kimi Räikkönen and Giancarlo Fisichella. Kimi stood on first place, Fisi on the second and Alonso was supposed to be standing on third place but was forced to go to the hospital after the crash that ended the race.

At the next Grand Prix Kimi had to give his number one trophy from Brazil to Fisi because the race control changed the results after the race. There was so much going on that they didn't even know who had won the race when it was stopped. If Kimi had kept his 1st place he would have been world champion in 2003.

Here is a video with a few highlights of the race:

Last year Nico Rosberg won the race. Take a look at last year's results:

I am pretty sure the top3 will have the Mercs and a Red Bull up there this year.

Here are my predictions:

Pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

Race:

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
3. Max Verstappen, Red Bull

Fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

Surprise: Felipe Massa will have a great weekend.

Post your own predictions to our F1-4-LIFE PREDICTORS LEAGUE!

The rules:

POINTS:  1st - 3  2nd - 5  3rd - 10 

HOW IT WORKS: the aim of the game is simply predict who comes where in the race (top3). A total of 18 points can be won on a race day. If you get winner and and 3rd place right but 2nd wrong you get 13 points same if you get 1 correct. eg. 2nd you get 5 points. If a driver wins the race and you said he would come 2nd or 3rd no points would be awarded. Same if he came in another position, and you predicted that wrong. A table will be posted up every race weekend. The point scoring system will change once the cars become more competitive. Everyone will say a merc 1,2 so it won't be close or fun. 

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PREDICTIONS: send an email to f14lifeblog@gmail.com or message the Facebook page to submit your predictions. You have until lights out to make them. If you submit them when the race has started they won't count. So be quick! like the Mercedes. 

THE PRIZE: the winner of the league will win themselves a admin place on the F1 4 LIFE page along side AE, JT, MW, MH, JI and PM. If you don't want to be an admin you are welcome to participate anyway. We may also come up with some other prize if it helps. 

That's it for today and if you want to send me feedback then email me: f14lifeblog@gmail.com

6 occasions the title has been settled in Brazil

Next weekend's Grand Prix in Brazil could well determine the outcome of the 2016 title fight. For the first time in his career, Nico Rosberg's fate is in his own hands: win, and he will be crowned champion, regardless of where Lewis Hamilton finishes. With the German bidding to make history, we look back on the six previous occasions when Interlagos has played host to the outcome of the championship battle...


2005 - Round 17 of 19

BEFORE - 1. Alonso, 111 pts; 2. Raikkonen, 86 pts
AFTER - 1. Alonso, 117 pts; 2. Raikkonen, 94 pts

After five years of Ferrari dominance, it was Renault's Fernando Alonso who grabbed the 2005 championship by the scruff of the neck with victories in three of the first four races catapulting him into an early lead. McLaren, though, soon came to the fore, the superlative pace of the MP4-20 undermined only by suspect reliability. Kimi Raikkonen led the fightback, and by Belgium, Round 16, the Finn had six triumphs to his name - the same as Alonso. Even so, the Renault man was in a commanding position, his unerring consistency earning a 25-point advantage heading into Interlagos. Raikkonen's slim hopes of keeping the title alive dwindled as Alonso took pole, with the McLaren man lining up fifth. By the flag Raikkonen had fought through to second, behind team mate Juan Pablo Montoya - but there was no stopping Alonso. Third gave the Spaniard an unassailable points lead - and therefore a first world championship crown.

2006 - Round 18 of 18

BEFORE - 1. Alonso, 126 pts; 2. Schumacher, 116 pts
AFTER - 1. Alonso, 134 pts; 2. Schumacher, 121 pts

One year on, and Alonso was involved in another championship scrap - although this one went down to the wire. Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher was the adversary, with the German's somewhat surprise retirement announcement - and Alonso's decision to switch to McLaren - adding yet more intrigue to a tense, and at times heated, rivalry. Ferrari and Renault dominated throughout, winning all but one race. It was Alonso who held sway for much of the season, but with two races to go Schumacher wrested the championship lead from the Spaniard, level on points but ahead on countback. Disaster struck in Japan, however - Schumacher's engine blew while he was leading, handing Alonso a victory that moved him 10 points clear. With the title on the line in Brazil, Schumacher suffered more misfortune: a glitch in qualifying left him 10th, while he also suffered an early puncture in the race itself. He fought back valiantly to finish fourth - but could do nothing to derail Alonso, who enjoyed a comparatively smooth route to second on the road, and a second championship crown.

2007 - Round 17 of 17

BEFORE - 1. Hamilton, 107 pts; 2. Alonso, 103 pts; 3. Raikkonen, 100 pts
AFTER - 1. Raikkonen, 110 pts; 2. Hamilton, 109 pts; 3. Alonso, 109 pts

Three men headed into Brazil in with a shout of the title in 2007 – and it was Kimi Raikkonen who came from furthest back to snatch the ultimate prize. For much of the season the Finn had appeared an outside bet for the crown, with McLaren's new signing Fernando Alonso or rookie starlet Lewis Hamilton looking more likely champions. But as tensions frayed - and mistakes crept in - within the McLaren camp, Raikkonen racked up the points. Six straight podiums kept him within mathematical touching distance going into Brazil, but even so the title was Hamilton's to lose. The Briton's four-point cushion quickly became a deficit, however: an error on the opening lap, coupled with a gearbox problem, limited him to seventh at the flag. Alonso, meanwhile, was third, but it wasn't enough: Raikkonen, ceded first by Ferrari team mate Felipe Massa, had prevailed on the road and in the title race, overturning a 17-point deficit in the final two races.

2008 - Round 18 of 18

BEFORE - 1. Hamilton, 94 pts; 2. Massa, 87 pts
AFTER - 1. Hamilton, 98 pts; 2. Massa, 97 pts

No season finale can match the drama of 2008 as Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa laid on the finest of sporting theatre. The pair had duelled ferociously all season, momentum swinging constantly as brilliance, mistakes and misfortune came thick and fast. By China, the penultimate round, Hamilton had gained the upper hand in terms of points, although both he and Massa sat level on five wins. It all came down to Interlagos. Massa claimed pole, and led as the lights eventually went out following a 10-minute rain delay. Hamilton, meanwhile, looked secure, needing only to finish in the top five to clinch the title. There was a twist in the tale though: the rain returned and, as drivers pursued differing strategies, Hamilton was suddenly bumped to sixth. He was still in that position when Massa crossed the line, and a partisan home crowd erupted in celebration. Fortune had one more card to play though: into the last corners of the last lap, Hamilton, on intermediate tyres, picked off Toyota's slick-shod Timo Glock. The title - by one point - was his.

2009 - Round 16 of 17

BEFORE - 1. Button, 85 pts; 2. Barrichello, 71 pts; 3. Vettel, 69 pts
AFTER - 1. Button, 89 pts; 2. Vettel, 74 pts; 3. Barrichello, 72 pts

After 2008's epic denouement came 2009's fairytale, as the Brawn team emerged from the ashes of Honda's withdrawal to take the season by storm. Jenson Button was at the forefront, winning six of the opening seven races to build a comprehensive championship lead. But a subsequent fallow period, during which the field closed Brawn's early technical advantage, allowed team mate Rubens Barrichello and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel to close. A much-needed podium in Italy gave Button breathing room, and meant he arrived at Interlagos - now hosting the penultimate round of the season - 14 points clear. Qualifying ramped up the tension - as the heavens opened Barrichello claimed pole, while Button and Vettel were mired down in 14th and 15th respectively. The Brazilian led in the early stages, but fortune chose not to smile on him: his race unravelled and he eventually fell away to finish eighth. At the same time Vettel and Button surged forward - and while Vettel beat the Briton to fourth, Button had done enough to clinch a first world championship crown.

2012 - Round 20 of 20

BEFORE - 1. Vettel, 273 pts; 2. Alonso, 260 pts
AFTER - 1. Vettel, 281 pts; 2. Alonso, 278 pts

New records were set as seven different drivers triumphed in the opening seven races of 2012 - but by mid-season one driver had managed to pull clear of the pack: Fernando Alonso. In what was arguably his finest season to date, the Spaniard was 34 points ahead at the mid-point of the year, and 29 points clear heading into the final stretch. Defending champion Sebastian Vettel began to hit back though: victory in consecutive races in Singapore, Japan, Korea and India moved the German ahead, and by the USA, the penultimate round, the Red Bull man led Alonso by 13 points. It all came down to Brazil - and once again Interlagos delivered a stunning climax. The drama centred around the opening lap - Vettel got a poor getaway from fourth, and was then tagged by Bruno Senna at Turn 4. Suddenly facing the wrong way amidst a charging throng of cars, Vettel somehow emerged unscathed and without serious damage. Advantage Alonso - but Vettel wasn't giving up. Despite a slow stop, and a large crack opening up on the floor of his car, the German began to fight his way back up the order. The decisive move came 14 laps from the end, as Vettel recaptured seventh - enough to make him champion if he made it to the flag. He went one better: Michael Schumacher's generosity gave him sixth, and with it a third world title.

2016 - Two races to go

GOING INTO BRAZIL - 1. Rosberg, 349 pts; 2. Hamilton, 330 pts 

After two years of being bested by his team mate, Nico Rosberg has the opportunity to strike back next weekend in Brazil. Momentum has swung between the pair over a fiercely contested season, but the basic equation is now simple. Win, and a first championship crown will be his. Having prevailed at Interlagos for the last two seasons, does history beckon for Rosberg in 2016?

(source: f1.com)

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