2014 Petrobras Brazilian Grand Prix

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OctopusPine
I can only hope! :lol:

On a serious note though, Rosberg is a gonner already. He scraped his way to pole position this time, and there's no way Hamilton hasn't got more in his pocket. His best shot for the title is to simply let Lewis go tomorrow, look after his car, and hope that Mr. Vainglorious runs into severe problems in Abu Dhabi.
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Rosberg has been in the position of having to hope for misfortune for Hamilton for some time. He's as quick as Hamilton at times, but not enough that he can make up the gap on outright speed. And there's simply not enough time left.

Rosberg should absolutely be giving it everything that he's got. If he stays out in front, then there's a chance that Lewis' ego gets the better of him and he doesn't just settle for 2nd and makes some catastrophic error. If Hamilton DNFs here and Rosberg wins, that's the gap back down to nothing again, which means whoever finishes in front in Abu Dhabi wins. That puts the ball back in the court of head to head competition, at least, and Rosberg can then hope that he's on top form that day.
 
You can't compare laptimes of the past really, because the new surface is so smooth compared to how it was. It's a whole different track.

Great save by Verstappen in practice by the way.

Fear we will have a re-run of the previous GP. With Rosberg being fairly easily beaten by his team mate.
I hope Massa makes a great start and can stir things up a bit.
 
Still not a fan of this double points next race. If it's won in Brazil then so be it.
 
It can't be @m8h3r , the thing that could happen is Lewis walks away with 49 points and retires in Abu Dhabi. It's not a mathematical cert until the end.
 
Imari
Rosberg has been in the position of having to hope for misfortune for Hamilton for some time. He's as quick as Hamilton at times, but not enough that he can make up the gap on outright speed. And there's simply not enough time left.

Rosberg should absolutely be giving it everything that he's got. If he stays out in front, then there's a chance that Lewis' ego gets the better of him and he doesn't just settle for 2nd and makes some catastrophic error. If Hamilton DNFs here and Rosberg wins, that's the gap back down to nothing again, which means whoever finishes in front in Abu Dhabi wins. That puts the ball back in the court of head to head competition, at least, and Rosberg can then hope that he's on top form that day.
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In my personal opinion that's an even less reliable tactic. Relying on Hamilton screwing-up as he tries to pass you is a lot like relying on rain in the middle of the desert, to stop you from dying: once in a blue moon, it might happen. Most likely however, the camel's got lunch! But 2011 aside Lewis has always been a driver who knows how to battle hard, without falling off the island.

Also Abu Dhabi is a track Lewis has always been extremely quick at, so I worry Nico's best there won't be enough. Mind you Hamilton does seem to have a Yas Marina jinx; twice he has been forced to retire from a commanding position there. Unfortunately this is all Rosberg has got to rely on now. Problems aside Lewis can just cruise around behind him for these last two races, and still take the title.
 
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OctopusPine
In my personal opinion that's an even less reliable tactic. Relying on Hamilton screwing-up as he tries to pass you is a lot like relying on rain in the middle of the desert, to stop you from dying: once in a blue moon, it might happen. Most likely however, the camel's got lunch! But 2011 aside Lewis has always been a driver who knows how to battle hard, without falling off the island.

Also Abu Dhabi is a track Lewis has always been extremely quick at, so I worry Nico's best there won't be enough. Mind you Hamilton does seem to have a Yas Marina jinx; twice he has been forced to retire from a commanding position there. Unfortunately this is all Rosberg has got to rely on now. Problems aside Lewis can just cruise around behind him for these last two races, and still take the title.
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The thing is, this way Nico has two routes to victory. The one I described, and the one you described where he hopes that Hamilton has something weird happen to him in Abu Dhabi.

If he simply lets Hamilton win Brazil, he's only got the one you described. He's left cards on the table, and thus wouldn't be maximising his chances.

I don't debate that relying on Hamilton screwing up is a long shot. Nor do I debate that his chances of beating Hamilton head to head are low. Everything is a long shot for Rosberg at this point. He needs to keep as many options open as he can, on the off chance that one of them happens. He's got a better chance of winning the lottery with two tickets than one, even though it's horribly unlikely either way.

Then again, it's not all about Hamilton screwing up. The Williams are quick enough that at certain points of the race they're likely to be mixing it up with the Mercedes, and there's always the potential for getting caught up in backmarkers or someone else's accidents. There are situations where through no fault of his own Hamiton could come out worse than his skill deserves, and Rosberg needs to be in a position to capitalise if he wants to have even half a chance at the title.

Rolling over and giving up doesn't gain Rosberg anything at this point, it only works in the favour of Hamilton.
 
Unless Abu Dhabi gets stopped before 75% distance and half the double points are awarded. I see no way that could happen, but it's a possibility.
 
TenEightyOne
It can't be won in Brazil.
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I think he means that without double points it wouldn't matter if it got won here or at the last round.

The sky will not fall down if it didn't go to the last round you know.
 
Imari
Then again, it's not all about Hamilton screwing up. The Williams are quick enough that at certain points of the race they're likely to be mixing it up with the Mercedes...
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And one of those Williams is piloted by Massa... there's no way he's going to be doing Hamilton any favours and especially not at Interlagos.
 
I know it can't be won in Brazil but with the addition of the double points in Abu Dhoni it feels as though they're manufacturing a fake finish.
 
TenEightyOne
And one of those Williams is piloted by Massa... there's no way he's going to be doing Hamilton any favours and especially not at Interlagos.
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I imagine Williams as a team probably feel reasonably safe being a bit more aggressive than they might otherwise be. Ferrari is pretty unlikely to take many points out of their lead, especially with McLaren seemingly on form. Beating a Mercedes this late in the season would probably look very good when they're wooing potential sponsors for next year.

m8h3r
I know it can't be won in Brazil but with the addition of the double points in Abu Dhoni it feels as though they're manufacturing a fake finish.
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It depends how this race goes. The double points at Abu Dhabi still may not make any difference at all to the championship, depending on how it all turns out.
 
Great start for Nico. Amazingly clean first lap.
 
OctopusPine
And so it begins! Fastest lap from Hamilton...
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Wonder if he can make anything of that, given how short the life of those tires is.

Oops. Box box box.

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Double-oops. Penalty Massa. Shame. Speeding in the pits.
 
It's weird seeing the Mercs fighting for 5th.
 
Hulkenberg, I like you. But I will love you if you hold up Hamilton for a few laps! :lol:
 
Going to be a long race. No chance for a Merc on Merc fight till the end of this stint or the start of the third.

All that extra grip from the fresh surface is killing these tires.
 
Mid race commercials have arrived to the paid channel I'm watching the race from. Usually when you pay for a channel it means that the channel won't show commercials mid program!
 
At least you can watch the race right now. I'm simply getting text updates on a live feed. Mind you for the sake of my sanity, that's probably just as well! :lol:
 
OctopusPine
At least you can watch the race right now. I'm simply getting text updates on a live feed. Mind you for the sake of my sanity, that's probably just as well! :lol:
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I can't even get it to load and update since for some reason the live timing doesn't auto-update.
 
OctopusPine
At least you can watch the race right now. I'm simply getting text updates on a live feed. Mind you for the sake of my sanity, that's probably just as well! :lol:
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Nope, what I can watch right now is Santander commercial. :p
 
Uh-oh... people getting lots of blistering on the front right.

Scary stuff... given how hot the track is. Still... the Mercs are lapping quick, even if both drivers have blisters.
 
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