The penultimate round of the arduous 2016 Formula One world championship is at last here and all remain on tenterhooks to see the outcome of the title race itself. Join The Roar for a live blog of the Brazilian Grand Prix from 3am (AEDT).
Nico Rosberg comes to the Brazilian Grand Prix with a 19 point lead over his teammate and rival Lewis Hamilton. The equation dictates that if the German were to merely win the event, he will be crowned world champion.
The defending world champion’s last hurrah will be to convert his pole position into a victory.
Interlagos, a 4.3km fast and undulating circuit, has never seen Hamilton grace its top step – despite it being the scene of his maiden championship win in 2008.
That statistic plays into the favour of Rosberg, who has romped the race for the past two years and showing that pole position isn’t going to guarantee victory.
Tyre strategy remains open at this stage, with the hard, medium and soft compounds being available. But the spanner of weather is most likely to be thrown into the mix.
Rain has often provided mixed races in Brazil and indeed can catch out those are aren’t careful.
Thus if the weather proves to be changeable, drivers like Kimi Räikkönen (celebrating his 250th grand prix) from third, all the way to Daniel Ricciardo in sixth, could be in with a sniff.
It must be taken into consideration too, how the Ferraris and Red Bulls can impact the title race itself.
Tensions between those camps from the previous race in Mexico, could well spill over into Silver Arrows territory and either help or hinder either of the two contender’s championships.
Wet weather would likely mix up the mid-field too, which could be of benefit to Sauber who’ve been knocking on the door of some points recently. Their battle for tenth in the constructor’s championship with Manor being of great significance – with a $35 million sum attached to who prevails.
And what of Felipe Massa? This will be his final bout in the sport in front of his adoring home fans. Williams may have missed the mark in qualifying, ending up eliminated in Q2 – but should be on the charge during the race.
All remains in the hands of the weather gods then. Could we see a new world champion crowned at the conclusion of the 71 laps? Or face another twist, before the showdown in the desert.
Join me then on The Roar from 3am (AEDT) for what should be a promising Brazilian Grand Prix.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Thank you for tuning in this morning and getting through this rather lengthy race! The Roar will return in two weeks time for live blog coverage of the championship finale. Thanks and until next time.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Well then, only one more race remains then in 2016 and it will be at the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in a fortnights time that the title will be decided. Rosberg must only consolidate another podium place, if Hamilton wins the race - to ultimately claim his maiden title.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
After 5 safety cars, 2 red flags and almost 3 hours of stop and start racing - Lewis Hamilton braved the conditions to claim his first win in Brazil, as well as his 52nd career win, taking him to second on the all time winner's list. Nico Rosberg did what he had to do and kept himself out of trouble, resulting in a solid second place finish. Just 12 points separate him from his teammate now in the championship standings, with the title to be decided in Abu Dhabi. Max Verstappen's drive to third was nothing short of astonishing, with the 18-year old showing no quarter to his rivals and displaying mastery in the treacherous conditions. Other highlights saw Sauber score their first points of 2016, with Felipe Nasr holding onto eighth for two points. As a result they move ahead of Manor to tenth in the constructor's championship.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
-------- DRIVER'S -------- 367 - Nico Rosberg 355 - Lewis Hamilton 246 - Daniel Ricciardo 197 - Sebastian Vettel 192 - Max Verstappen 178 - Kimi Räikkönen 97 -- Sergio Perez 85 -- Valtteri Bottas 66 -- Nico Hulkenberg 53 -- Fernando Alonso 51 -- Felipe Massa 46 -- Carlos Sainz 29 -- Romain Grosjean 25 -- Daniil Kvyat 21 -- Jenson Button 7 --- Kevin Magnussen 2 --- Felipe Nasr 1 --- Jolyon Palmer 1 --- Pascal Wehrlein 1 --- Stoffel Vandoorne 0 --- Esteban Gutierrez 0 --- Marcus Ericsson 0 --- Rio Haryanto 0 --- Esteban Ocon
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
The updated standings: ----- CONSTRUCTOR'S ----- 722 - Mercedes AMG 446 - Red Bull Racing 375 - Scuderia Ferrari 163 - Force India Mercedes 136 - Williams Mercedes 75 -- McLaren Honda 63 -- Scuderia Toro Rosso 29 -- Haas Ferrari 8 --- Renault Sport 2 --- Sauber Ferrari 1 --- Manor Mercedes
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
PODIUM INTERVIEWS - Hosted by Martin Brundle: HAMILTON - "That was a long, long race." "I was generally just chilling up the front." ROSBERG - "It didn't go my way today with the win, but I can live with second." VERSTAPPEN - "Difficult conditions, especially on the final straight. Very slippery there."
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Here are the results from the 71 lap Brazilian Grand Prix 1 L. Hamilton 2 N. Rosberg 3 M. Verstappen 4 S. Perez 5 S. Vettel 6 C. Sainz 7 N. Hulkenberg 8 D. Ricciardo 9 F. Nasr 10 F. Alonso 11 V. Bottas 12 E. Ocon 13 D. Kvyat 14 K. Magnussen 15 P. Wehrlein 16 J. Button RET E. Gutierrez RET F. Massa RET J. Palmer RET K. Räikkönen RET M. Ericsson RET R. Grosjean
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 71/71: FINAL LAP LEWIS HAMILTON wins a chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix, to keep the championship battle alive going into the finale in Abu Dhabi. Second is a consolation for NICO ROSBERG, who kept his head out of trouble in a trouble-filled race. And what a stellar drive from MAX VERSTAPPEN to claim third on the podium. Some of the best driving we'll see in the wet.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 69/71: Another spectacular move from Verstappen! He passes Perez for third. We're truly seeing something special here with Verstappen in the wet weather.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 68/71: FOUR LAPS TO GO Verstappen is the fastest on track currently, with a 1:25.305. He's within a second of Perez now who is sitting in third and on the podium.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 67/71: Verstappen squeezes Vettel onto the grass and as a result takes fifth away from the German. The Red Bull easily dispatches the Toro Rosso of Sainz too for fourth.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 66/71: Vettel not making things easy for Verstappen, as the Ferrari tries to hold fifth place.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 65/71: 7.7 seconds between Hamilton and Rosberg at the front. Perez and Sainz sitting pretty in third and fourth, whilst Vettel is in pursuit of the Toro Rosso. Verstappen and Hulkenberg not too far behind either.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 64/71: Ricciardo goes round the outside of Nasr into Turn 1 and gets the job done.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 63/71: Ricciardo relegates Ocon into tenth, which will be concerning for the Manor outfit - as they will be hoping for Sauber to not finish the race ahead of them.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 62/71: Double retirement for Haas, with Gutierrez pulling into the garage. Such fury shown by the Mexican, as he throws his gloves away. Verstappen squeezes Nasr out of P7. He's got his sights on Hulkenberg now.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 61/71: Verstappen dispatches Kvyat for P9 too and now is closing all the time on Ocon. And he does make it a clean move.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 60/71: The Red Bull teammates are fighting closely, as Verstappen lunges past Ricciardo for tenth. Hulkenberg takes sixth from Nasr meanwhile.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 59/71: Kvyat heads a Red Bull triumvirate in P9. Behind him is Ricciardo and Verstappen. Hulkenberg closing all the time on Nasr for sixth place.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 58/71: 2.6 seconds now between Hamilton and Rosberg. Similar gaps now between Perez and Sainz and back to Vettel in P5.