Ahead of today's season finale, much has already been written in terms of the fact that it marks the end of an era, what with Mark Webber heading off to Sports Cars and the V8 powerplants giving way to V6 Turbos.

However, given the current state of play, in terms of finance, one has to wonder how many other drivers we are seeing for the last time indeed, how many teams?

For successive races we have been told that Lotus' problems were a week away from being resolved, courtesy of Mansoor Ijaz and his Quantum Motorsports. Now, as we head into the off-season and the sport drops out of the media spotlight the silence is deafening.

But what of all the other teams in financial difficulty, Caterham, Marussia, Sauber, Force India... McLaren. What of them over the months ahead?

After all that rain, things have improved a little for this the final day of the season. It's dry, though overcast, with the forecast changing, seemingly, by the minute.

At best it's expected to remain overcast, at worst changeable. The sun has tried poking through the clouds but appears to have given up on the idea.

Of course, with rain blighting all the previous sessions, and virtually no running on slicks, the teams are all at sea (sorry) in terms of set-up, but that's a predicament that sees everyone in the same boat (sorry, again).

Strategy is going to be very hard to predict as it depends entirely on the weather. Complicating the issue further is the fact that the drivers are all allowed to start on whichever compound they choose (if it is dry) - and they all have a full unused allocation of slicks.

If the race remains dry for the entire 71 laps two to three pit stops are theoretically the quickest strategy, but without any data to go on, it's hard to predict the timing of the stops

Over the years Interlagos has provided us with some absolute classic races, be it dry or wet, and what better way to end a predictable run-in to season end than with a real thriller.

Whilst Vettel and Red Bull decided the titles some time ago, Ferrari could yet leapfrog Mercedes for the runner-up spot, while Lotus hasn't entirely given up on the idea of snatching third from the Maranello team for itself.

Pitpass has been sceptical of the Lotus deal from the outset, and if we are proven right it appears Pastor Maldonado will take his PDVSA money to Enstone. Already there is talk of Nico Hulkenberg, having seemingly lost out at Lotus, returning to Force India, a move which could see Paul di Resta head off to Indy Cars.

Then there's the all-important fight between Marussia and Caterham for tenth and all that FOM prize money, the Russian outfit still smarting from what happened here a year ago.

McLaren, facing its first season since 1980 in which it has failed to score a podium result, suffered a further blow this morning when the team opted to change the gearbox on Perez' car following his crash in Q2. As a result the Mexican starts from 19th on the gird, while his teammate, Jenson Button, inherits the 14th spot.

The pitlane opens and naturally, having had virtually no dry running, there's mad scramble to get out there and get in as many laps as possible.

The Ferrari 'family' bids farewell as one of the children flies the nest... the mechanics applauding Felipe Massa as he leaves the garage for his last race with the Maranello outfit.

Elsewhere, Mark Webber was applauded to the strains of Waltzing Matilda, even if it was the Rolf Harris version.

The race hasn't even started and Button is at it. "Seems to be a hesitation when I drop the paddle," says, referring to the clutch on the McLaren, "seems to be a hesitation."

"I've a lot of understeer and a weak front, especially in the low speed," adds Hamilton.

"Still the same thing, a hesitation with the engine, so causing wheelspin," says Button.

It might be dry but a lot of the fans in the stands, presumably locals, are wearing rain macs... so clearly they anticipate some of the wet stuff. Then again, it is also unusually cool.

As the field prepares to head off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 19 degrees C, while the track temperature is 24 degrees. According to the radar there is a 60 percent chance of rain during the next 71 laps.

Most are on the option (medium) tyre, though Button and Gutierrez are on the prime (hard).

Hamilton is reminded to be aware of graining on the front right in T6, 7 and the front left in T11, 12 and 4.

Webber reports that his "visor is off". Hopefully not referring to a Chris Amon moment.