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Brazilian Grand Prix: Formula One live blog

12th November, 2017
When: 3am AEDT
Where: Autódromo José Carlos Pace
First held: 1972
Most wins (constructors): McLaren (12)
Most wins (drivers): Alain Prost (6)
Number of times held: 44
Race length: 305.909 km (190.067 mi)
What will we see in the new Formula One season? (Image supplied by AMG Petronas Motorsport).
Roar Guru
12th November, 2017
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It’s the penultimate round of the 2017 Formula One world championship and while both titles have been decided, there is plenty at stake at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Join The Roar for a live blog of the race from 3am AEDT.

Nestled in the bustling city of São Paulo, the 4.3km undulating circuit represents one of the drivers’ most favourites on the calendar – with its high-speed corners and long straights.

The traditional 71-lap race has been known to dish up chaos, with changeable weather always a factor in Brazil.

Dramatic races such as in 2012 and 2016, where Max Verstappen demonstrated a masterclass in the treacherous conditions, are what’s well known about the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Newly crowned four-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, found himself in a spot of bother during qualifying, when he crashed out early in Q1. As a result, the Briton failed to set a time and is set to start the race which he won last year, from pit-lane.

It was the other Mercedes AMG however that took pole position, with Valtteri Bottas storming to take the top spot by less than four one-hundredths of a second, over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

Kimi Räikkönen lines up on the second row of the grid with Verstappen, all in with a chance to win the race.

Not within immediate contention is Daniel Ricciardo, who once again was subject to a Renault power-unit penalty and will start the race from fourteenth. Both Toro Rosso drivers join the Aussie in the bottom half of the grid, suffering the same issues.

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If weather is indeed a variable during the race, then the possibility of some surprise results is always on the cards. Sergio Perez from fifth in the Force India leads a quartet of prospective podium getters; in the likes of Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz.

Lest it not be ruled out that Felipe Massa can contend also, as the Brazilian gears up for what’ll be his final home grand prix. Starting from ninth, the Paulista will hope to not conclude his career in the same fashion as he crashed out in 2016.

The gloves are off then, as the championship is no longer in play. A straight fight between the Silver Arrows, Ferrari and Red Bull could very well be on the cards here.

Bottas can finish second in the standings, if he can overturn a 15-point deficit to Vettel in the Ferrari. Could he do so by claiming a third career win?

Tune in on The Roar from 3am AEDT for the Brazilian Grand Prix, as we count down to the end of the 2017 season.

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