24/11/2013
NEWS STORY
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.
They're away, and a superb start from Rosberg who leads into the first corner. Another excellent start from Hamilton sees the Mercedes duo sandwich Vettel. Alonso slips to fourth. No incidents in the first series of corners.
Vettel nails Rosberg into the Senna S at the start of lap 2, while Alonso passes Hamilton. Webber is fifth ahead of Massa, Hulkenberg, Grosjean, Ricciardo and Bottas. Another bold move, this time into T6, sees Webber pass Hamilton around the outside.
Ass Alonso battles with Rosberg, Grosjean and Ricciardo are hard at it. Throughout the field drivers are still struggling to understand their cars in these unusual conditions (dry).
Game over for Grosjean whose engine blows bit time just after T12, a cloud of thick white smoke covers the track at one of the most dangerous points. Alonso passes Rosberg into the Senna S to take second.
Unseen, Perez is already up to 14th, while Button is up to 9th, great stuff from the McLaren duo.
Out front, Vettel posts a new fastest lap (17.806) as he builds a 4.9s lead. Alonso heads a train of four cars. Webber, who has passed Hamilton, is all over Rosberg.
As Alonso looks good in second, Massa, currently sixth, goes quickest in S1.
At the start of lap 7, Webber goes around the outside of Rosberg into T1, the Red Bulls now first and third.
As Grosjean arrives back in the pits, having run up the hill, teammate Kovalainen has slipped down to 17th.
Gutierrez, Perez and Sutil are running three abreast as they battle for 11th.
The stewards are investigating a Perez/di Resta incident at T12 on the first lap.
Hamilton is all over his teammate who is clearly struggling, Massa keeps a watching eye on the situation.
"Front left looks to be bit graining now," says Hulkenberg, as Rosberg is told not to hold up Hamilton if his tyres are hurting. Indeed, he is subsequently told: "So Nico, we would like you to let Lewis through..."
As Webber looks to make a move on Alonso, Hamilton duly passes his Mercedes teammate.
At the end of lap 10, Vergne is the first driver to pit.
After 11 laps, as the stewards announce they are taking no further action re Perez/di Resta, Vettel leads Alonso, Webber, Hamilton, Rosberg, Massa, Hulkenberg, Button, Ricciardo and Bottas.
At the start of lap 13, Webber passes Alonso into T1 as Perez makes short work of Bottas to get into the points.
Hulkenberg and Button are battling for seventh, the Englishman eventually passing the Sauber.
Ricciardo is the second driver to pit, the Toro Rosso heading into the pits at the end of lap 14.
As Massa passes Rosberg in T1, leaving the Mercedes for dead, the German is told that there could be light rain on the way in ten minutes. Indeed, Maldonado is also told to stay out because there could be showers. However, Alonso is told that no rain is expected in the next twenty minutes.
"OK, that was a good pass," Rob Smedley tells Massa, "that was a good pass, mate, c'mon boy, c'mon."
Bottas and Sutil both pit at the end of lap 18, the two swapping places in the process. Indeed, as they exit the pits Vergne passes the Finn to add to his misery.
Bottas subsequently passes Vergne, but in moments loses the place and then another, this time to Kovalainen.
Massa and Perez pit at the end of lap 19, as Kovalainen makes a bold move on Vergne to take 17th. The Frenchman fights back on the back straight using DRS but the Finn uses all his experience to hold station.
"That's the way boy, great one" Kovalainen is told. "Please repeat, man," says the Finn. "Just saying that's a great effort, good job."
Next time around Button and di Resta pit, with Alonso and Hamilton stopping a lap later.
Running in 6th, Massa posts a new fastest lap (17.049), as Button returns to the track to be immediately immersed in a fierce battle with Gutierrez. Using all his guile, the McLaren driver nails the Mexican to take 8th
Rosberg and Gutierrez pit at the end of lap 23, with Webber stopping a lap later. It's a poor stop for the Australian, a problem with the left-rear. With Alonso posting a new fastest lap (16.966), Webber loses second place to the Ferrari.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 24, the German rejoining still in the lead. Meanwhile Webber is all over Alonso and Hamilton is hounding Massa.
At the start of lap 26, having posted a new fastest lap (16.957), Webber nails Alonso into T1. The Spaniard fights back in the subsequent DRS zone but the Australian veteran is in no mood to surrender.
Pic pits at the end of lap 26 leaving Chilton as the only driver still to stop.
"Not expecting any widespread showers," di Resta is told, "only drops at times, your pace is good."
Running second, 10.2s down on his teammate, Webber posts a new fastest lap (16.927), as Vergne makes his second stop of the day.
"You're matching Jenson on lap time," Rosberg is told, "if you can go minus-2, that would be good."
"You were about 80% on the last set, so we could've gone longer," his crew tell Hulkenberg. "Front-right graining again," he replies.
As the camera shows Bottas and Gutierrez banging wheels, the stewards reveal they are investigating Massa for crossing the white line when entering the pits.
"Some drops of rain, some drops of rain," says Bianchi, "I can feel it."
As Smedley informs Massa: "I think Hamilton has a problem with his KERS too, he's only using like 1 light or something, just carry on is fine," the Brazilian is handed a drive-through. The Mercedes driver is told of the Brazilian's penalty.
Radar update on lap 30: Showers continuing to build just a few miles north of the circuit. A few drops at the moment.
Told of his drive-through, Massa is very unhappy. "It's unbelievable, unbelievable," he wails.
Hamilton is told that Massa is backing off deliberately and not to get "suckered into it". As he drives down the pitlane, Massa gesticulates, rejoining in 8th behind Perez. Kovalainen has pitted.
After 35 laps, basically half-distance, it's: Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Button, Rosberg, Perez, Massa, Hulkenberg and Ricciardo. Sutil is eleventh, ahead of di Resta, Gutierrez, Bottas, Maldonado, Kovalainen, Vergne, Van der Garde, Pic, Bianchi and Chilton.
Told that Massa's penalty was for crossing the white line, Button asks not to be spoken to when he is in the braking zone. Oooh!
As Hulkenberg asks to have his pit board show the gap behind to Ricciardo (5.4s), Hamilton moans: "I don't know if these tyres will last". The Mercedes driver is informed the radar forecast "looks clear for the next 20 minutes".
"What's the situation, with the tyres?" asks Massa. "We still need another 5 to 6 laps," replies Rob Smedley.
A slow pit stop for Sutil, the German losing time with a problematic front-right.
Gutierrez reports that it is "drizzling".
"You must stay away from the white line at pit entry," Webber is told, "we will not get a warning."
"We're the fastest car on circuit again," Sutil is told, "30 laps to go on the hard, let's see where this takes us."
Ricciardo makes his second stop at the end of lap 42, thereby promoting di Resta into the points.
Button and Massa both pit at the end of lap 43, as does Maldonado. Button rejoins in 8th and Massa 10th.
Next time around, Rosberg and Perez pit as the cameras pick up on Sutil un-lapping himself by passing Vettel.
As Hamilton says that it is raining, Bottas goes off at T1 after what appeared to be a tyre failure. Moments later Hamilton also has a tyre failure. However, replay shows Hamilton and the Finn banging wheels hence the instant tyre failures.
"He turned into me," says Bottas.
Vettel, Webber, Alonso and Vergne all pit, the Red Bull crew not expecting both cars at the same time, Webber having to wait as his teammate is serviced. Di Resta and Gutierrez also pit.
In all the drama - and no rain - Vettel still leads Webber, albeit by 6.1s, with Alonso third, ahead of Button, Rosberg, Perez, Massa, Hamilton, Hulkenberg and Sutil.
The stewards are investigating the Hamilton/Bottas clash.
Replay shows how much off-guard the Red Bull team was, the crew not expecting Vettel and having Webber's tyres ready.
Hamilton is handed a drive-through for the incident with Bottas. Told about the stewards decision Hamilton maintains an eerie, worrying silence. To add to his woes, the Mercedes driver is told that he has incurred damage to the floor of his car.
"It's not my fault," declares Hamilton as he serves his penalty, rejoining the race in 11th 4.6s down on Ricciardo.
Another drive through, this time for Van der Garde for ignoring blue flags.
As Button harries Rosberg, Perez goes quickest in S1 and Sutil makes his third stop of the afternoon.
"Press the ED button..." Massa is told, "save the tyres for now, and then we push on in about 5 laps."
At the start of lap 58, Hamilton makes quick work of Ricciardo to take ninth, though in truth the Australian offered no resistance.
After 57 laps, Vettel leads Webber by 6.2s with Alonso a further 2.4s down the road. Button is fourth, 21.3s down on the Ferrari and 3.3s ahead of Rosberg who has Perez right up his exhaust. Massa seventh, ahead of Hulkenberg and Hamilton.
"Paul, we are free to push, especially in these conditions," di Resta is told, "we need to catch Ricciardo."
"Lewis watch for brake-throttle overlap, that's the only way we'll get the battery charged."
A rear suspension failure sees Pic's season come to an end. "Something's broken on the car," says the Frenchman who was running 17th.
"Front tyres going a little bit," warns Kovalainen. "Front right going. Understeery."
Maldonado and Vergne having a great scrap for 15th as marshals are seen struggling with Pic's abandoned Caterham.
Sutil blasts past Kovalainen on the pit straight to take 13th. A terrible race for Lotus.
Maldonado spins in the middle of the Senna S after tripping up over Vergne, the Williams driver is lucky not to collect Button moments later, the McLaren driver totally unsighted.
Unsurprisingly, the stewards are investigating the Maldonado/Vergne incident.
As Chilton makes his third stop of the afternoon, on lap 68, di Resta and Gutierrez are locked in battle for 11th.
"Everything is OK with the car, are you OK to finish?" Maldonado is asked. "Yes fine, just low speed," he replies.
"Where's the rain, man?" asks Hamilton. The rain has cleared, Lewis," comes the reply, "the rain has cleared."
"One more lap Mark," Webber is told, "enjoy it."
Vettel takes the flag, his thirteenth win of the season and his ninth in a row.
Webber takes a fine second and heads off for a well-deserved break before joining the Porsche Sports Car team. The Australian, contrary to all the rules, removes his helmet whilst still on his slow down lap, waving and smiling at the crowd.
He's off again... "I love you guys... enjoy it, this is unbelievable."
As Vettel performs his customary perfect do-nuts, Alonso finishes third, ahead of Button, Rosberg, Perez, Massa, Hulkenberg, Hamilton and Ricciardo.
Di Resta is eleventh, ahead of Gutierrez, Sutil, Kovalainen, Vergne, Maldonado, Bianchi, Van der Garde and Chilton, thereby assuring Marussia of tenth in the championship.
We didn't get the rain we wanted but all in all it wasn't a bad way to end the year and certainly a fitting farewell to Aussie Grit.
"Awesome, Thank You Mark," reads his pit board. Took the words right out of our mouths.
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