The Brazilian Grand Prix Formula 1

Sebastian Vettel takes the victory! That was a devastating performance.

He has lost the front wing! Lewis Hamilton is back!

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

wide in the Crucible, where success and failure screen by. Two

contrasting sides, separated by fractions, by a thin, brittle line.

For a while, perhaps, victory and glory are companions, the world, it

seems, belongs to you. But never think it is for ever. One slip

across the line and you are lost. Once a challenger, now no more than

a follower. You need to maintain the gap.

Once champions, now supporting players. Those left in the chasing

pack turn to Pickering, crawling and scratching as they search for

the elusive glory again. At times, there is also a glimpse through the

window, to the world outside, where good times and bad have far more

meaning than mere sport can offer. Some have to leave the stage while

others linger. Held fast, thinking the triumph is still close at hand.

It is a fine line between he who Leeds and those left behind.

Sebastian Vettel has gone wide! What drives them on? It is the

thought of glory. In the end, it can fall only to one man. A salute

to those who race, to those who win and lose, succeed and fail in the

blink of an eye. And a salute to the champion, to the man who enjoys

the favours and the spoils. But in the quickest of sports, success can

be fleeting. Savour the glory while it lasts.

How do you follow that? Good afternoon, welcome to the last race

of the season. The 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix. It is wonderful that

you could join us around this wonderful, evocative, historic

circuit. We started in Australia, we finish in Brazil, the end has

come, but it has been fun. It has been a classic year. What I love

about Formula One, it always delivers. The highlight was India,

we had no clue what was going to happen, and the Wellcome, the race,

the excitement, it was magic. Formula One delivers every single

time. We will never forget the share it! Congratulations on how

many -- how much money that raced. It has been a fantastic season. The

only thing that was missing was an it into team battle, like we saw in

Red Bull. Otherwise, we saw the comeback from McLaren. Sebastian

Vettel lifting his performance and taking it to another level. The

handing in their a furore, the victory at the British Grand Prix.

We are here for a classic Grand Prix. Today, we are expecting the

weather to deliver. It has been raining already, and we have been

told we are a few minutes away from a shower. This place always

delivers drama, and plenty of emotion, as well. The emotion is

part of coming to Brazil. There is never any pain in coming to Brazil,

it is magic. This is where we saw Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill,

Fernando Alonso, you can go through the list of drivers, it is

phenomenal what goes on here. last images, the ticker-tape with

Felipe Massa, and then him putting his chest as he won in 2008,

fantastic stuff. For one of the drivers, despite the fact that the

championship has been one already, it is still a win, to win in Brazil,

it is still special. There is some extra impetus, because everybody

would love to finish this year, having beaten Sebastian Vettel on

this track. It is not only about winning this Grand Prix, it is

difficult, and this is also part of the development for next year. The

chassis is have been drawn, the manufacturing will be under way.

has been quite a journey to get here, and this is the final race of

the year. We will spend the next 55 minutes warming you up, and then

and write without their futures secure, but the same does not apply

to the man alongside us, the only man we could start with, the

youngest ever double world champion, and others not expecting that!

Explain yourself. It grew overnight! Puberty is over now! It

was there this morning! You are looking older, Hallelujah!

thought you were making reference to a growth here. It is quite a

long way to get something! After the season that you have had, how

did you come down off this madness and what do you do for the next

couple of months? I shake the moustache! That will take you a

month! It will be essential... I should take it off! It will be

essential to use the break to come down, to charge the batteries. The

very soon, we go again next year. We just wanted to say, thank you

for being such an accessible and available world champion. It is

great for the millions of our friends at home who cannot come to

every race. That is a small glimpse of how busy a world champion is,

and I am glad he has gone, because he has -- he might have given away

this bit. Until yesterday, he had picked up 14 pole positions this

season. Could he break Nigel Mansell's record?

Here is what happened. Sometimes in Formula One, you have

to applaud greatness way you find it. Sebastian Vettel set pole

position just as he has done at 14 other tracks this season. It was

stunning, 0.2 quicker than his team-mate. He broke Nigel Mansell's

record of most pole positions in a season. You did it! Yes, baby, we

got it! I am sorry for Nigel, well, I am not really sorry! He took

three or four races last. But nevertheless, it has been an

incredible year for us. Almost as excited, Rubens Barrichello and

Bruno Senna. They used the home support to deliver impressive laps.

Bruno Senna was 0.7 faster than his team-mate. The other Brazilian was

less sure footed. Felipe Massa struggled on. He was beaten to

sixth by Nico Rosberg. It could have been better than that. The

tyres were not great. I was struggling. You have beaten your

team-mate in qualifying 16 times this year. That is OK! That is fine.

That left the rest took battle for the places behind Sebastian Vettel.

Fernando Alonso his fifth, Lewis Hamilton is fourth, beaten by

Jenson Button. A great result, considering his record here.

thought I was further up the grid than I was, but the other guys did

a great job. The Red Bull is working well around here. It is not

perfect, but it's a good place to start. Mark Webber made a Sebastian

Vettel work, but the world champion has his team-mate covered. It was a

display of genius behind the wheel. I am in a good position for the

race. It is a long grace. Concentration to the maximum. I

will get something good out of at the end. I did not finish in the

last race. One wanted to the chequered flag. The car feels great,

I start from the front, and this place has always been different,

special in many ways. It has delivered great races. Red Bull on

points. Toro Rosso start ahead of Sauber. Heikki Kovalainen is again

the best of the new teams are. What a disaster for Virgin. They

will be renamed next season. This car will start ninth, Bruno Senna's.

We speculated after you left after qualifying and you would sleep

tonight. How did you sleep? Others relaxed, I was pleased with my lap,

and the guys have done a good job. We got the car in ninth position,

massive team work, and we recognise that. What is the strategy for this

race? We have seen a bit of rain already. You must be able to have

something up your sleeves. I do not have any experience on this track.

The weather is always changeable as Interlagos, I have been here many

times. We will have to play it by ear. We start with the dry strategy.

We will see how the weather will play. It could be more interesting

for us. The qualifying yesterday was super. How big a platform do

you think that is to convince these people that you are the driver for

them next year? It is important to show a good performance. It is

difficult to be consistently good. But if you show promise, it does

you good favours. I hope that the eye can be like this every time in

the future. -- I hope that I can be like this. We love it when you

climb out of the Kop. The Grandstand went wild. What are you

expecting it today? At the start, they might be some difficulty in

hearing the engine noise! The start is not a flat start. You are just

as the point where it is running down into the start. Could that

give you an advantage? It could be an advantage. We will see how the

conditions are on the track. I am on the queenside, which is an

advantage. -- beak clean side. We start with the right tyres. We hope

it will be as good as qualifying. We are delighted you could join us.

You're on call had his day around here, and hopefully, you will as

well -- your uncle. Rubens Barrichello starts 12th. He has

been in over 320 Grand Prix, but he might not be around next year. His

future is very uncertain, but that I said, I can be there any time you

want. He said, we want you to drive next year. I went into the house,

crying, as you know me, with the gratitude of that moment. That was

one of the best days of my life. Was that a Dream Team, Jenson and

you? It was, one of the best teammates you could have, but also

the nicest one. He was the first one to drive the car, and when I

asked him, he said, we are going to have fun with that. I believed him

so much. For me, it was magical. memory is Valencia, it is my only

recollection of any driver walking up the pit lane after winning a

race, and each and every team and each and every driver coming out

and applauding you - can you recall that? Very much. Valencia was the

100th win for a Brazilian driver. To see all the emotion, to see that

I had to push with one last pit stop, I remember Hamilton coming to

me and saying, you beat me fair and square today. It was a nice feeling.

I remember coming into the pit area, and everyone, every one of my old

mechanics, my old engineer has come everyone was just enjoying it.

the euphoria of that moment, I really must bring it up to where we

are, and of course, what looms very large in my memory bank his last

weekend, how low a point was that for you? I knew it was not my fault.

I came back thinking, today, I'm going to have a great race. That's

me nowadays, it's positive thinking. Yes, I was at the back, but within

what lap, I was already 18th, and I had a great race. It is all about

the attitude. In the crystal ball, what do you see in two years' time?

Could you stay and bring all your family back to Europe and be a team

boss? I don't think so, Eddie. My passion is for driving. I have a

sense that whenever I'm a team boss, I'm going to grab that driver out

of the car, and say, let me drive. My this is is for there, all my

knowledge is there. Although I could build a team, I want to go

back to Brazil, to come back to Brazil, to live. The press have

made reference this week to the fact that if you get a chance to

exit with dignity, following your unbelievable record in Formula 1,

there would be no better place than this - would you accept that?

think Felipe has been very protective. As a friend, he does

not want me to go without saying goodbye to my people. But the fact

is that I will never say goodbye to my people. I'm a man of Interlagos,

a man of Brazil, a man of Formula 1. I have no intention of saying

goodbye to them. One day, yes, maybe I will say goodbye. But right

now, I'm so much part of it. It is almost like I feel that next year,

I'm going to be 40 years old, it will be 20 years in Formula 1, I

have so much experience, but I have so much motivation, so much to go

through, it would be bad not to use my service right now. So in that

crystal ball, I cannot see in to years' time, but I can see myself

here next year. And in just a few moments, expect this part of the

grandstand to go wild when Rubens Barrichello drives out of his

garage. Let's go and see the final preparations going on in the

Williams garage. If I was a team boss in Formula 1, regardless of

age or anything else, to see the passion that he showed, that would

be enough for me to sign him up. Yes, but there is a very

significant aspect to add into that. Just think about how many creches

he has had, then work out the cost of any creches, Rubens Barrichello

is a very solid pair of hands. I would not put him out of the

equation until the very last moment. The engines are getting roughed up,

they will be going to the grid very soon. More than 320 races for

Rubens. But he lacks one thing, he's not young. The word potential

is over used by many an engineer. You cannot actually quantify

potential, but it gets people excited. That is where or the young

drivers come in. We know what this guy can do, safe pair of hands, but

maybe this new young thing will be the new Sebastian Vettel or Lewis

Hamilton. That is the problem for Rubens right now. But a great

driver. Time to hear from yet another Brazilian, today is Felipe

Massa's 100th race for Ferrari. But looking at the size of the cake, I

think he might be slightly weighed down today. As if this wasn't a big

enough weekend for you, you have now received the world's largest

cake - just explain why we are all here. Because it is 10 years in

Formula 1, and 100 races for Ferrari. It is a very special race.

Here in Brazil, especially. For my family, and everybody who helps my

career, so I'm very happy to achieve that. And I hope we can

have a good race tomorrow, in front of all these nice people. It was

great to see some of the drivers here to celebrate as well. It must

make you very proud. Yes, I'm very proud of everybody, all the Great

fans, the drivers. And also, everybody from the Sauber team who

was working with me for three years. And everybody from Ferrari, it has

been a long-time racing for Ferrari, even when I was a test driver and

everything. It is very special for me. Can you give the crowd

something to cheer about tomorrow? Yes, for sure. We need to use this

great moment to put everything into the race tomorrow to have a good

result again. Do you think it is a good lookalike? I think it is

better than me. Don't put yourself down, I hope you have a fantastic

weekend. They're both about as tall as each other, but definitely one

of the nicest guys on the grid. We hope he has a strong race at home.

We're here with the Team Principal, Stefano Domenicali. Not quite such

a successful season this year, Felipe gave himself five out of 10

for qualifying yesterday. Could you give us a mark out of 10 for

Ferrari this season? We have to make some priorities. If we give

the right car, I'm sure they will do a good job. This is the most

important thing. We have to make sure everything is going in that

direction. Of course, Felipe had a difficult season, no doubt. But I

know that he has been through difficult times, and I'm expecting

for him to show to us and to everyone how strong he is. So, for

this year, how many out of 10 for the team? I have not understood.

For the team, how many marks out of 10? I will not do that, because it

will be used. But I know very well what it is, and my people know very

well. Maybe you could give us some insight as to where you are

currently, which is very close. You're running Lewis Hamilton right

down to the chequered flag in the last Grand Prix. Can you give us an

insight into the target for the team, in terms of performance? Is

it half a second, one second? have put down a target, for the

aerodynamic development in the wind tunnel, week by week. We hope that

is enough, but as always, we need to see the first race. We saw last

year, in February testing, it was not so clear where we were in terms

of performance. We have quite an ambitious target, and we hope that

first of all we can achieve that, and secondly, that we will be fast

enough to beat the competitors, who are very strong, no doubt. Luca

Montes a Millo, the ultimate boss of Ferrari, he has been quite

critical about what he's expecting from Massa next year - do you think

that helps? Of course, we need to say that everybody has a different

way to motivate the people. In any organisation, you do something for

the benefit of everyone, because otherwise, how can you say, you

have to be... Do you understand? And of course, the style of a

President is always to motivate everyone, to make sure that we, all

together, give the maximum. And I'm sure that he realises that it has

been a difficult moment, and he wants to show to Felipe that we

expect a lot from him, but that is the same for everyone in the team.

We will have a quick look at the standings. Explain to us your

highlight of the season. I'm guessing it would be the British

Grand Prix? Yes, of course. That was fantastic for us, celebrating

60 years of being in Formula 1. And then I would say that we could have

won a couple of races more. But that's the result of the track, and

we have to take out what we had. It was not really a good season. So,

looking forward to finishing this and concentrating on the next one.

We will let you get to the pit wall. Thank you very much to all of you.

Bye-bye. We all know what a Golden Globes looks like, we know what an

Oscar looks like. But this is what everybody wants to get their hands

on, the BBC 2011 Formula 1 Award. What shall we start with? Best

start. What springs to mind? It is my old driver Nick Heidfeld.

Malaysia, if you recall. For me, Alonso, Italian Grand Prix, fourth

to first place. Actually, on reflection, Alonso, what an amazing

thing that he did in Spain. I would agree with that. But I'm in shock

that you admitted you were wrong. I'm here to give you the Best Start

award for this season, you came from fourth to first, an absolutely

outstanding achievement. Very well done. Thank you. If F1 is not about

a decent drive, I'm not sure what it is about. India was probably the

most emphatic, dominant race win. Fastest lap, pole position, walk

away with the race, Vettel was supreme. If you cast your mind back

to Montreal, the longest Grand Prix broadcast in the history of the

sport. The winner was Jenson Button. I think he was the Driver of the

year. He was at the back and he came through and won it. Best drive

for your performance in... Canada? I'm glad you agreed with us. First

of all, thank you so much. I'm so glad that you have not paid too

much taxpayers' money on this. Canada was one of those races that

you will never forget. You will only have one of those in your

career. Thank you, man. Fond memories. We cannot give out awards

without including Sebastian Vettel, the guy has been stunning.

youngest ever two-time world champion. I think he has been head

and shoulders above everybody else. I have got the perfect award for

Sebastian Vettel. On behalf of the BBC, for the most number of helmet

changes in one Formula 1 season. Why do you change your helmet so

much? To get this award. How does it rank with the World

Championships? Above everything. and show it to your team, well done,

we're proud of you. Let's try and pick best overtaking. That is not

difficult. It is a slam dunk. German Grand Prix, Nurburgring,

Lewis Hamilton taking the Ferrari on the outside, he made it look

effortless. It was a classic. me, it was the one when I nearly

dropped the microphone in the commentary box. It was Mark Webber

Taxpayers' money, mate. Why not? Thank you very much. You always get

the odd naughty boy in Formula 1... I would nominate Hamilton and Massa

for coming-together two corners before the end of the British Grand

Prix. I disagree, I think it is Masser -- Massa-Hamilton, their

confrontation in India. All good, but actually, what could beat the

two of them in Singapore? You have won the award, sharing it with

Felipe Massa. Whatever, man! Formula 1's 2011 Naughty Boy award.

Do you know what? Have you been speaking to my old headmaster?

you naughty at school as well? he thought so. I'm delighted to

crown you the Naughty Boy of Formula 1. Thank you. Very nice.

Your first win of the season, congratulations. OK, the final

award of the season, this is just for someone, something or a group

of things that have made you think, wow! I've gone for Rihanna at the

Korean Grand Prix. It was a great moment. I would have to go for

George McCartney! Thanks, George! Put your hand in my pocket. This

one goes to the Jourdan for all you're amazing shirts during the

apologise for those clothes, and I thank you if you bid on the shirt

for Children In Need, and you can see Nico Rosberg gearing up to head

out on to the grid. It is a big race for him. He was showing great

pace in the second part of qualifying yesterday. In the end,

he qualified sixth. He beat his team-mate, Michael Schumacher. It

has gone quieter, so now we can award the final of Ward, for the

fastest pit stop. It goes to Mercedes. You will not believe this,

but I wanted to give you an award from the BBC, the Golden will not,

2.3 seconds for the pit stop in South Korea. People did not think

we could get to this kind of speed. If you could accept this, and do

you want to dedicate it to anybody? I want is a thank-you for the hard

effort the pit crew have put in, to make us the best in the pit lane.

And the design team, to provide us with the equipment. Please give it

our best congratulations to everybody. You do not get your pit

stop down to 2.3 seconds by accident. They start sixth and 10th

today. The cars are making their way round to the grid. Lewis

Hamilton and Jenson Button start side-by-side, and they need no

extra inspiration to race in a place where they have fond memories.

It is always special for me to come back here. It is a beautiful place.

The murmurs that I remember, being at the circuit after I won the

World Championship -- moment that I remember. When I land, I feel and

close to Ayrton Senna. I feel his presence. The people are passionate

about sport, the atmosphere they create is unlike any other circuit.

The previous year, I had been so close to winning the championship,

and I lost it by one point. I was in a position to win it, then I

lost it, then I had it, then I lost it, then I got it back. My heart

was in my mouth. I came across the line, and I was the world champion.

When I have kids one day, I will be able to play it for them and say,

this was a special moment. Team- mate on pole position, Sebastian

Vettel as well, I thought, do not be negative, we will win the world

champion. -- world championship. We are the champions, my friend! I

wish I had auto June, some of us cannot sing Clive! A very special

moment. I gave you a bit hurt in the garage. It was pretty crazy. --

a big hug. Great memories. We ha at the back

of the Mercedes garage. -- we are at the back. It is great to come

somewhere where it is all about passion. It is crumbling in parts,

the paddock is cramped, but it is great here. You take this race of

the calendar at your peril, because you look for Brazil, and you say,

you must be there. You have to experience the passion. It is

incredible, anybody who has watched the soccer commentators from Brazil,

when they get a goal, it is something similar here. They make

it sound so incredibly exciting. This is what the product looks like.

The team hospitality is so cramped, we have to hide under here. If

Jenson Button wins this race, he will have won the second half of

this season. That is a good message to send out to the rest of the grid.

That is why each Grand Prix is important. The teams are coming

here with new developments, the teams want to win their races.

Jenson Button is driving better than one when he won his world

championship. If he picks up just one point, he will equal the total

that Sebastian Vettel managed which won him the title last year. It

puts into perspective how strong the car has been in the second half.

The car was not close enough to the pace at the beginning. The

championship is not divided in half, it is over a serious number of

races. I have been critical of McLaren, because they are such a

great team. They did not do their homework well enough at the

beginning. Had they done so, we might have had a more exciting

season. They may have been closer to getting the championship.

have got Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso behind

Red Bull. Fernando Alonso won both of his titles here, 2000 of five

and 2006. That will feel so long ago now. Yes, a great double world

champion. That seems a distant memory now. He has been one of the

great starters this year. He will try to make a move as they get the

run into the first corner. It is an open entry. The cars can filter in.

Stefano Domenicali has told us Ferrari will be stronger next

season. What will Fernando Alonso be doing to apply the pressure, to

remind them that this has not been good enough? He will say, I can

deliver for you, give me the car, give me a hope, I can win a

championship. He has that experience. The problem we have,

Ferrari did not seem to be giving us the right vibe that they are in

a position to challenge for that. We are getting close to the start

of the race, there has been some fantastic races over the years.

Martin Brundle is on the grid for us. For the final time in 2011,

take it away. One of my favourite grids, so much

atmosphere. I like to see the colour of the eyes of the

spectators, but they have changed Pit Grandstand. There is still

plenty over here. Lewis Hamilton's car is pushed to the grid.

Sebastian Vettel coming in behind him. I wonder if that will be what

we will say later on. To stop the drivers running into people, the

mechanics are forced to pick them up on the back of the grid. The top

16 are pointing uphill. It is pretty tricky. The tyres coming

everywhere, they are still talking about rain. I am getting sunburnt.

So many of the teams set their cars up to expect rain this afternoon,

and as ever, it has not shown up. Look at these fans, they also close

to the racetrack. This grid is narrow. They are looking for their

Brazilian local heroes, Rubens Barrichello, Bruno Senna and Felipe

Massa. There is Felipe Massa, in the golden crash helmet, to

celebrate 10 years in Formula One. That is nothing to his best mate,

Rubens Barrichello, 19 years. He is hoping for 20. Let's see if we can

talk with Paul di Resta. Let's see if we can learn a few things from

him. A change of boots. Do you not like the other bids? I have a

problem with the pedal. The biggest thing is trying to choose a visor,

because of the forecast. It is quite bright, but you have to be

prepared for the rain. Never have a part Pfizer in the rain. -- dark

visor. The weather forecast is changing, but it is looking more

and more likely that it will not rain. The showers are not coming

close to the track. It looks like it will be dry, and hopefully a new

set of option tyres. You can choose your tyres, it is pretty tight into

the first and second corners. and our bit of the hill is not

quite as deep, so hopefully our stock will be as good as it has

been. -- Allah start. See you later. Let's see if we can find Felipe

Massa. Bruno Senna's and Renault is on the grid. Pastor Maldonado at

the back there. It looks as if Bruno Senna has left the grid. They

all dress in the same overalls! Is Pruneau not on the grid? He has

just popped off. We do not think it will affect the tyres, the weather.

It will be a short shower, and then who knows? It is cropping up all

over the place. Let's see if we can find Felipe Massa. He is here with

lots of media. All sorts of microphones sticking in there. I

suspect he will walk up a tiny pair of steps and wander towards the

bathroom. They load up on so many litres of water. He is speaking

Portuguese, the language here. I will give it 10 more seconds, then

have a word. He is the furthest forward on the grid,... How is it

that in? Is the car feeling good? It can rain, we need to be ready

for everything. It will be a difficult race. It is hot now.

Let's concentrate, to take all of this power from the grandstand, and

make a good result for them. A wet race is your best chance to win?

can be. We have to be ready for everything. Who else can we find?

Adrian Sutil is over there with Force India, he has had a great

qualifying. We think he could be moving from the team next year. I

do not want to talk to him about that on the grid. But I will

doorstep him. A great position, what do you think you can do?

good position, it is good to start here. But yes, we have to look for

the rain showers. It is hard to predict. We have to prepare for

every situation. We will see Hamed goes. I have given up listening to

Formula One weather forecasts! Sometimes, I think the same! So

many different forecasts. Sometimes, none of them are correct. It is

hard to say, especially here, we have seen so many different

forecasts. But hopefully, ours is right, I always trust hours! Do you

care if it is wet or dry? I do not really care. They have done their

best to accommodate the weather. The cars are in parc ferme, there

is little they can change on them. Let's see if we can talk to a few

of the megastars. Nico Rosberg on the left-hand side. Then, we have

got Fernando Alonso. Let's keep moving. How are you? Lewis

Hamilton's car. Jenson Button, third on the grid. They run the car

on a laptop. They start them up using a laptop, you do not be the

driver anymore. -- you do not need to drive any more. The lead is

being closed now so we do not have another look. And surprisingly!

Let's see if we can learn something from Mark Webber. How was it

looking? Kenya beat Sebastian today? We will see how the race

goes. The showers are developing, we will see if any of those hit us.

If it is dry, it will be interesting to see Howard goes in

terms of tyres. -- how it goes. Have you got the same seventh peer

and downforce level as your team- mate? Yes there. It will be nice to

see you win. Let's see if we can have a final word of the season

with Sebastian Vettel. He is hiding under the umbrella, because of the

sunburn. We might just have half a that one, after that look! Five

drivers have taken the last 48 podium positions, do you intend to

take another one today? 49 sounds better. Yes, the season so far has

been incredible, but we have got one more to go, and I'm looking

forward to the race. It is going to be a difficult one. At the moment,

rain is on the way, so we will see what happens. It should be a good

race. After the puncture in Abu Dhabi, you want to go into the

winter after winning his last race of the season, yes? Yes, without

punchers. Last time we had a good start, we will try to repeat that.

And we will try to get further than the first corner. -- punctures. The

car feels good. As you know, the weather is a bit of a mystery. But

chances of rain are getting less and less. Three races in the rain

this year, Red Bull have not won any of them. That's the big

question mark for them. But it is what has happened. If it does rain

here today, my guess is that it will not rain here today. Let's see

what Mark Webber can do. For me, he thinks he can take Sebastian Vettel.

It will be a big ask, I'm afraid. Just a few paces back, Felipe Massa,

his worst qualifying for ages. But these fans love him. He will be

under pressure to perform. Well, not just because he's Brazilian, I

think he has to do it because of the connection with Ferrari. We saw

him celebrating 100 races with them, and he really needs to get his game

on. There's Nico Rosberg, he had high expectations yesterday, he was

disappointed with sixth place on the grid. In the last three seasons,

48% of the races have been won by Red Bull, incredible dominance,

thanks in no small part to their various record-breaking

performances. Interlagos, 800 performances. Interlagos, 800

metres above sea level, anti- clockwise, here we are with pole-

sitter Sebastian Vettel. Get ready for a lesson in how to qualify a

Formula 1 car. Goes through the Senna S. Coming through to turn

three already, absolutely flat out at Curva do Sol. In seventh gear

coming gently downhill, speed building easily. Past the braking

point. He's on throttle before the apex! Now, we're up to seventh gear,

coming up to the horseshoe, the Ferradura. Coming up hill.

Immediately coming into Laranjinha. Cutting heavily across the kerb on

the inside. Be patient on the throttle here. Brake in a straight

line for this very tricky little right-hander. The front locks, but

no problem. 150mph, diving down hill at Mergulho, then up in again

to Juncao, the Junction. He controls it nicely. Early on the

throttle, just climbing the hill, the never-ending, long left-handers.

We're into seventh gear, nothing to do apart from duck into the pit

lane, come out of it again, take the shortest route to the line. 15

pole position, in one season, a new record for Sebastian Vettel, the

only man and a 72 seconds. And there was the finger once again,

but we may as well end the season exactly as it has been all year

long. A quick mention for Mark Webber, he has been struggling a

little bit at the start this season. Sebastian Vettel will not mind that.

Virtually every race, he seems to have gone backwards off the start,

and that is not his usual form. He needs to be in top form here, if he

needs to do what he says he can do, take on Sebastian Vettel in a

straight fight. Let's take a quick rain check with McLaren. Jonathan

Hyde, would you prefer it to rain, and do you think it will? I have

been asked that question honoured yesterday and this morning. The

radar says there are showers all round, but it is blazing sunshine

at the moment. We expect a shower this afternoon, the indicators are

that it will come, the question is, when? Would we like it to rain? Yes,

I think we would, actually. With the set-up we have got, we would be

up for that. Have a good race. And there are Brazilian superstars

every way you look. Look at the crowd gathering around, because

Ronaldo has joined us, with his son. Is this the next Brazilian football

superstar? I hope. I cannot believe, two races in a row, we have got the

great man himself. Are you becoming a real fan or Formula 1? Can we

just go home now? Does this young man not realised? There's a

wonderful Grand Prix about to happen, are you not excited? No.

thank you for coming. Are you excited? I'm very excited. I love

Formula 1. Thank you very much for dragging your son down here,

obviously against his will. Have a good day. Fantastic, can we go home

now? I thought you were a children's presenter, are you not

one of those great people with young kids? Why do you think I

left? You frightened the poor left? You frightened the poor

little chap. Now, we can see the circuit from above, and for the

first time here in Brazil, we will be using DRS. They have said they

do not want to make the overtaking too easy. Will it make it too easy?

Because overtaking does happen here already. The other thing is, if

they get the DRS on so quickly, there is a danger that they will

lose the back of the car. We saw it with Massa. You try something

different and then you're in trouble. Personally I think it is a

big ask for the drivers, to employ the DRS that early, you will have

to be sure the car will be in good condition. Let's think of some

reasons to get young Alex excited about this race now. The first one

revolves around Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel would love to win this race

and finish the season in the only way that he knows how, picking up

the trees. I have a sneaking suspicion, if things go well for

Mark, I think inside that team, there is really such a good feeling,

I think he might just let Mark go for it. Here's Rubens Barrichello,

he said he felt great yesterday. Yes, and bearing in mind where that

car has been, languishing at the back for some time, I think it was

brilliant. A queues for the camera from Rubens, he has taken part in

more than a third of the Formula 1 Grand Prix that have ever happened.

Would you like to see him here next year? The way he did that interview,

it sounded like a swansong. He wanted to make that interview, he

loved it, he asked us for a copy of it. Not many drivers do that. It

was almost as if, I want to get a lot of things off my chest. He

wanted to say that he was not friendly with Michael. It was an

expression of emotion. What will Bernie Ecclestone be saying? Thank

you for the entertainment but don't do it again please next year?

the ultimate. We used to say, we are all puppets in Bernie

Ecclestone's little scheme. But in this case, Vettel is not, because

he has been so dominant, winning so early in the season, berniemacro

would not have liked that. You have not managed this yet, one-word

answer, who will win? Vettel. 1973, Interlagos first reverberated

to the sound of an F1 engine. But for this season, we bid farewell to

2011, in high-definition, in a way brilliant in Brazil? There are six

drivers on the grid who are desperate to head into the winter

break with a victory, and, crucially, have they got to do so.

But if it rains, there could well be several more this afternoon. It

is always very unpredictable here at Interlagos. We have seen races

delayed through sudden downpours, safety cars coming out, a 70%

charms of the safety car. It is a short lap, therefore it is a 71 lap

race. And it is tough, it is a very tough race for the drivers,

particularly their necks. We're hearing, as we look at the

cityscape of Sao Paolo, rain is two kilometres away, but not heading

this way. That's as we understand it at the moment, so, no rain for

the next half-an-hour. Nelson Piquet, in 1981, he drove around

the track in front of the adoring crowd, and with some style as well,

beating Vettel here? The pole- sitter has won two of the last 11

Grand Prix. Can you see that changing today? I fear the only

thing that can stop a Red Bull winning this race is the weather.

The starts have been absolutely adequate this year, converting pole

positions to getting into that first corner ahead of everybody

else. I think Ferrari stand an outside chance, Alonso has made

some incredible starts this season. RADIO: The chances are rain in the

next 20 minutes have reduced. So, if we have a dry race, we will

have to be a bit patient, until we get to the pit stop window. We're

expecting to have two stops this afternoon, three stops is

considerably slower. If anyone goes for that strategy, it is because

they are getting marginal on tyres. We have seen some blistering over

the last couple of days, but as you know, as the rubber goes down over

the weekend, the risk of blistering tends to reduce. At the start of

this Grand Prix, they will be six or second seven seconds slower than

what they were doing in qualifying. The track temperature if anything

is rising at the moment, as we hear that the rain risk is receding.

This is how they line up. Red Bull Senna, he has done a tremendous job

out there, as far as we are aware. That is Jenson Button, a man who

would like to hang on to second place in the Championship this

afternoon. You finish second in the World Championship, David, I'm sure

it mattered to you. It did, because it represented the best result I

ever had. He is the world champion. But no question it makes a

difference where you finish in the World Championship, especially if

you finish ahead of your teammate, and a teammate as good as Lewis

Hamilton. Well, Lewis cannot overtake Jenson Button this

afternoon in the Championship now, so I think for the first time in

his career, he will end up behind his teammate. Red Bull will be

sticking with the same drivers next year. Webber would love to beat

Vettel this afternoon. He has won this Grand Prix before. Looking at

the statistics, Alonso, Hamilton and Button have never won here. So

that gives those three an extra corner. You were knocked out of

your final Grand Prix on that corner. It is a nasty corner.

it is a long entry, all the way through to the apex. It is 50

metres from where they start to turn in. In many ways, it allows

the cars to funnel into the first corner. But it gives a bottle back

into the second corner. That is where I went out. A lot will come

down to the initial getaway, and the KERS deployment. How much do

you use? How much do you use to attack or defend? And collecting

data up is quite difficult on this short lap, recharging the system,

harvesting. All the cars are on soft tyres. Seventh and 8, Sauber

and Toro Rosso, that will be worth several million pounds to the team

for next year, who can hold that position. We expect a grudge match.

Williams should not be under pressure in ninth. If Lotus stay

10th, although they do not have any points, if anybody gets a 12th

place from Hispania and Virgin, they would lose that. You have to

be in Formula One for two years to get the extra money, and that would

destroy Lotus. Their future planning, yes. They will be

spending in anticipation of having that extra funding, because they

have to develop the package. years in, the three new teams are

still on the grid, which is great news. 24 starters, as we are on

board with Lewis Hamilton, doing a prescribed number of burnouts to

get the tyre temperature. A lot of science goes into that. He rolls

back onto his yellow line. The back of the field start finding their

slots. Mark Webber is pointing towards Sebastian Vettel. The grip

slips up. -- decreed slurps up. They are looking at the same five

red-light, which will be switched on by Charlie Whiting. The official

starter. Looker but never stare. They are away, the Brazilian Grand

Prix is under way. Mark Webber is under pressure from Jenson Button.

He has got the line. Fernando Alonso, around the outside of Lewis

Hamilton. Felipe Massa has had a great start. Ferrari, very quick

off the line. It is Sebastian Vettel from Mark Webber, Jenson

Button, Fernando Alonso, defending against Lewis Hamilton. Force India

going strong plea. Bruno Senna got off the line pretty well. Michael

Schumacher has slipped into 11th. They are still jockeying for

position as they go into the sixth corner. Sebastian Vettel pulling

out a very handsome lead indeed, considering how little distance

they have travelled. Nico Rosberg seventh, at Adrian Sutil, Bruno

Senna, Paul di Resta. Michael Schumacher tried to reclaim tenth

place. Jaime Alguersuari has gone a long way back. Heikki Kovalainen, a

mighty start of the Lotus, up into 15th place. Michael Schumacher

going down the outside of Paul di Resta. The Mercedes has been

incredibly fast through the practice sessions. We have to do

two laps before the switch on the DRS. Michael Schumacher should

defend. He did indeed. It is quite slippery up the inside. That will

be wedded ers Sony is. -- where the DRS zone is. Rubens Barrichello has

slipped the 19th. He was so excited with his qualifying performance.

is an emotional chap, I expect a few tears in his helmet now. He

does not have a straight line speed. He did better than the car should

have yesterday. Sebastian Vettel has broken the one second that will

allow Mark Webber to get the activation for that ers. 2.2

seconds at the end of the second lap. How does he do that? How does

he get so far ahead in five miles? With great racing drivers behind

him? He just carries the speed. He picks up the throttle before he

gets to any corner these days. the fourth corner, that was

incredible, in qualifying. He was on the palate, seemingly, for the

whole apex. -- on the power. Rubens Barrichello must be up to 16th.

Kamui Kobayashi and Sebastian bore any fighting over 13th place.

Sauber and Toro Rosso within one world championship point in the

Constructors' Championship. Fernando Alonso getting alongside

Lewis Hamilton. He defends the position. Felipe Massa getting on

the kerb. This is the shot from about. Look how late the apex is.

Good, clean stuff from all of the runners. Rubens Barrichello must

have been slow off the line. Does he use the KERS? Jenson Button goes

down the outside. Lewis Hamilton tries to gain on the inside, but he

slots in between the Ferraris. he was safe. Skilful driving it in

the midfield. Sebastian Vettel was pretty cautious. This is Rubens

Barrichello. He got swamped with all of the cars. There is nothing

you can do. You are out of sync with the whole pack. It looks much,

from behind the steering wheel. -- it looks much calmer. You get

knocked left, right and centre. He lost another five places by having

to be careful. Fernando Alonso looking stronger in the race than

he did in qualifying. We have seen the Ferrari getting out of shape on

the curbs are a couple of times in practice. They have struggled

through the bit -- through the first sector. A massive slipstream.

That would have been using the DRS. Lewis Hamilton was looking for a

way past, but he has been dropped. All 24 cars are still remained.

Some close battles. A long way to go. Ted Kravitz? Michael Schumacher

did not start on his new set of soft tyres. It was important for

him to get past Paul di Resta. He still has the benefit of new tyres

later. Williams, no particular reason for Rubens Barrichello's bad

start. I wonder what McLaren can do to rescue Lewis Hamilton's strategy.

Lewis Hamilton, fifth place. Michael Schumacher is on the back

of Bruno Senna. I still find it strange to see Senna and Michael

Schumacher! When Ralf Schumacher was on the grid, it was RSC, and

Michael Howard MSc. -- Michael had MSC. The DRS will not work here.

Unless you or alongside somebody, you are not going to dive at the

inside of the fourth corner. obvious place would have been in

the last sector, out of the 12th corner. But if you remember 2004,

we had Mark Webber lose control on the damp track. Maybe they were

worried about the speed at the 14th corner would be marginal. By the

time you lose your downforce, due or in the dirty air. Grand Prix

cars are like aircraft, if they run in turbulent air, they lose

performance. A lot of understeer from Michael Schumacher. He

struggling already with the tyres. Bruno Senna does not have the best

car. Understeer is when the front tyres slide. Because Michael did

not do a time, he can choose his tyres. That leaves him with another

new set of tyres. Mercedes and Paul di Resta have new tyres. Michael

Schumacher may well be keeping the fresh set of soft tyres for if we

have rain and they go on to intermediates. If you have 80 per

tread, it is easier to keep heat in the tyre. -- you have a deeper

tread. He becomes more difficult to move the compound and heated up.

The strategic play from Mercedes. Time will tell if it comes into

play. Let's never mentioned the word rain again until water comes

out of the sky! I am fed up talking about it! It does not seem to turn

up. The lead is 3.5 seconds. 0.7 back to Lewis Hamilton. The first

pit stops, lap 22, Lab 23. We are expecting two stops. The first

round could be between 20 and 25. The cars are heavy with fuel. Less

than you would have at normal altitude. It is putting less energy

into the tyres, so you should be able to go further. But with

altitude, to use downforce, so the car will slide around a bit more. -

- you lose downforce. The second stop well between 45 and 48 laps. -

- second stop will be between. of cars could pit at the same time

there. Yes, there will be a few Mercedes, knowing they have had

difficulties in controlling the where -- tyre Wedd. If they are

going to be hitting the limiter on the straight in front of us,...

That is a four-letter word we are not using! Michael Schumacher, 10th.

He has recovered his position. Bruno Senna has driven well this

year. He is desperately trying to keep hold of that drive for the

future, and he is making a good claim of it. Do you go for

potential, up or as a known quantity? The French driver has

done seven races. He is 0.5 away from Fernando Alonso. He has won

the GP2 championship. He thinks he has come back more mature, fitter

and more able to deliver. Renault are spoilt for choice. Bruno Senna

has put down a good case for him to stay with the team. That was a

great qualifying yesterday. That is a lot of pressure, because the car

has not been great in the second enough of the slipstream. Michael

cut across! He hit the front of his wing. I would like to see a replay

of that, it looks like he has a puncture. As we watched, Michael

went from the outside, hit the brakes and immediately went across

Bruno Senna. There was not much Bruno could do in that situation.

Bruno looked like he had a second bite at him in the middle of the

corner. It will not slow down. He tries desperately to get out of

everybody's way. He wants to hope that carcass flies off the tyre so

it doesn't start disintegrating and breaking his bodywork. Let's look

at the front wing of that Renault. It is looking tatty but

fundamentally still OK. He did definitely lose the leading edge,

which will affect the overall downforce. Maybe he has a little

bit of oversteer and taking off a bitter front wing might run the car

and bring him into balance. -- a bit of front wing. His middle

sector was not too bad, 41.3. That compares very well with Sutil in

front, also 41.3. He stays out so he will be just monitoring that.

The team at do have data beamed back to the pits. Fernando Alonso

on Jenson Button... There is an investigation into that incident

between cars seven and nine. Alonso got so much more speed coming out

of five. He has gone around the outside! Unbelievable. That was an

incredible pass. You would never dream of going around the outside

into that corner. I would never even set the car up to try it.

is the difference between great drivers and... Yes. Well, maybe six

and two threes from that angle. agree. And then the secondary...

Michael turning in an Bruno not doing an awful lot to get out of

his way. Obviously a little bit anxious. There goes -- they go

those Brenn new set of tyres on Schumacher's car. -- brand new.

There was not much damage. The floor was OK, bits missing, but the

tyre was a complete mess. Outside shoulder... Understood. That is

something we are hearing on the team Radia from other drivers, the

rear tyres are starting to hurt on hot track conditions. I wonder if

they might have to bring the stops forward. If they can make it to lap

20, they might be able to stay on two laps, but they might have to go

with three. Michael Schumacher joins in the scrap between the two

McLarens. He is a lap down after that pit stop. As soon as Jenson

got wrong-footed in turn six, if he had to defend heavily in four and

was slow around five. I think the first... I think the first point of

contact was Senna going a little bit deep on the brakes. They have

already touched at that point. don't think Michael did anything

wrong and nor did Bruno. That was a racing incident. Michael was a

little bit aggressive with the braking, but he can't judge exactly

where Bruno is at that point. After that Bruno is on the inside line.

You can't remove your car from the action. I would put that down as a

racing incident. Let's wait for the stewards. Alexander Watts, Formula

One driver, Le Mans winner. We have heard very little from the stewards

this weekend. Now they have something to do. Senna comes into

the pits for Renault. Do you think he is in a three-stop strategy?

will have to be now. They have not changed it. Remarkable. Unless

their strategy was to do three stops. The top leading-edge was

flapping around. Sometimes if it doesn't really her the performance

of the car. Alonso pulling out a gap on Button and Hamilton. Right

behind them is Rosberg. Remarkable. It is Schumacher. Massive then

Rosberg. -- Massa. The McLarens are struggling. Somebody said to me

this morning that McLaren are not as fast here as they have been in

recent races. Compared to Red Bull. That is beginning to look correct

in the race. It is interesting and confusing at the same time. A lot

of downforce you get at altitude, it should affect the cars the same

way. The lap times of the front few runners,... Lenny is at McLaren.

For a say there was nothing wrong with Jenson Button's car. Vitaly

Petrov stopping. Short shrift, second gear, we have a gearbox

problem. My goodness! A gearbox problem for Sebastian Vettel. He

had a KERS issue, but no indication of any gearbox issues this weekend.

We will see how that affects his lap times. McLaren are telling

their drivers to nurse their cars and tyres as much as possible. I

think Red Bull are getting ready.. Don't use the full 18,000 revs in

second gear. That is an indication of an overheating gearbox. It could

be a synchronisation issue. They have this seamless shift.

Thankfully for Vettel, they have only used second beer in two places

on the racetrack, 108 and turned 10. -- second year. The gap between

Vettel and Webber is reducing. Vettel went a little bit wide in

the pine tree corner. He might have been listening to the radio call.

It is interesting, I don't remember ever going faster while listening

to a team radio. It never affected my lap time when I was transmitting,

but when the radio starts a new start listening to the engineer, it

takes away a little bit of concentration. You don't slow down

on the road when you are listening to Cliff Richard! These guys are

going a lot faster. The this is a Buemi ahead of Perez and

Alguersuari in 13th place. Sutil is making his way through the pack. He

has just pitted. That is why he is back down there. That suggests

three stops. Our briefing this morning was that they were

suggesting three is too slow. You said it at the start. It seems like

the tyres are giving up earlier than they thought. We have got the

McLaren boys out, Jenson Button coming in. The briefing was to

expect two, the reality is we are on for three starts this afternoon.

-- stops. Not a lot of degradation between the hard and soft tyre.

they overheating or blistering? at this stage, we heard the radio

message from Sebastian Vettel to his engineer, saying right rear

blisters. They ran on Friday with a lot of blistering, but providing it

doesn't take away the surface, the carcass remains intact, they can

run happily. Jenson comes out in front of Paul di Resta after that

pit stop. The tyres that came off are right in front of me. A small

circumference line of blisters, they are not too bad. I fancy that

his strategic to try to get past a Ferrari again. We will see a

Ferrari react, no sign of them doing that yet. What size are the

blisters? Five pence piece? Half a centimetre, tiny. For short shift,

second and third gear. We need this. Second and third gear did he say?

Yes. I think it is an overheating thing. That is when you put the

most talk. Alonso and Hamilton pit at the end of lap 16. We have a

straight fight between Ferrari and total on a good stop. 3.9 against

3.7, Hamilton against Alonso. There's Alonso, wears Button? Was

Hamilton? Paul di Resta might have a chance. No changes. Rosberg is in

as well for Mercedes. He has been some senior engineers in the

morning, they give us the benefit of all of their experience through

practice. The Red Bull crew are coming into the pit lane. Will this

before Vettel? I believe it is. There they are. 22 people waiting

for him. Pretty scary driving at a garage of men at 60 mph. That

looked quick! It did. Now he has to use first gear in the pit lane and

he will have to short shift through second and third when he gets out

the end. You think it is the heating issue with the gearbox?

That would be my guest. If you go into third in the pit lane, often

you can drop out of your limiter and earned a penalty. Ted was

looking at Vettel's Tyre's. couple of things. Vettel's were

about the same if not slightly less blistered than the McLaren. They

looked in better shape. He also overshot his pit box by about 10

centimetres. The mechanics had to shift up a bit. That could prove

crucial. It was a very small Gatka Mark Webber. This could be his

opportunity to jump up. Car number nine, Bruno Senna, has a penalty.

The stewards have decided that it was Senna's fault for causing a

collision. Pretty tough, I reckon. I think that is a bit unfair. You

would not like to be the stewards leaving the Brazilian track! Red

bill are in the pit lane so Mark Webber is coming in. -- Red Bull.

They have far more camera angles than we have. They have G Pearce,

they can compare previous laps. -- GP yes. A great stop for Mark

well behind. Vettel must have some traffic on his in-lap. Vettel is

coming through, Mark Webber was just over a second when he went

into the stock before he took that lead. That looks like a much bigger

gap now. Alonso in the background ahead of Button, who seems to be

pulling away from Hamilton in this phase. They can't seem to catch the

Ferrari at the moment. It seems like the McLarens are hurting their

rear tyres this afternoon. I can't understand why that would be on

this track. Not many corners, 15 corners, only seven or eight of

them are put in any load into the core -- car. Her Senna's drive-

through penalty, one unhappy Brazilian. If you had to put your

money on straight-line speed between the McLaren or the Red Bull,

you would go with McLaren. 70% of the flat is full throttle. Why

would McLaren not be performing? Because so much time is lost in the

midfield. The rest is relatively easy. Pretty much all year, Red

Bull have been slower than a slow things down the straights. They

have gone for downforce, corner speed, and it has paid dividends.

By getting out in front, nobody can mug them down the straights. Sutil

on Perez. Sutil has stopped. Perez has and. That is di Resta, isn't

it? No, it is Sutil. It is Sutil and Perez. Sutil on the better

tyres. Will Perez come up the inside? Sutil making his way back

up into eighth place. Kobayashi will be his next target up the road.

What about Paul di Resta? He is back down in 14th place at the

moment. We will see how that works out. Felipe Massa leads the Grand

Prix. The man who has won twice, been on pole position three times.

Thought he had won the World Championship here in 2008 but

hadn't. Was Burke against Alguersuari. -- Rosberg. This is

for tenth place. This is going to cost and delay -- cost them dearly.

Mrs Vettel catching Massa, who has activation point. He will know that

if he gets... He can now open his rear wing. This is where we are

seeing it. He will have a perfect run down the outside into the

braking zone. Massa got out of it, he would be on the dirty part of

the track. Who do we have in the background? Perez has pitted.

out. He just has to be careful in the second and third. I'd used to

breathe a sigh of relief if I got through the third corner without

being on the opposite lock. The cars are so good now, you can dump

8% of your downforce and go faster. It is a different world. It replay

of a straight forward overtake from Nico Rosberg. That is all night.

Nico Rosberg recovering, having made his first pit-stop. Ferrari in

the pit lane. Where will that dropping out? He will, at behind

Lewis Hamilton. He is currently in sixth place. A very clever front

Jack, so he could swing out of the way and saved another 0.1 seconds.

Ted Kravitz was watching the stops. A slow getaway from Felipe Massa,

but it will be interesting to see if he only needs to make two stops.

It could be interesting if he does and the others need to make three.

Mark Webber had a slow in coming lap. Fernando Alonso gained 3.5

seconds on him. He was really penalised. We did not see anything.

We still have 24 cars in this race. That underlines the tremendous

reliability we have had this year, despite over 1000 overtakes this

year. And 100 -- hundreds of pit stops. So much action, if you do

not know where to block next. The skinny wind on his car. -- wing.

Jarno Trulli is up to 15th, he is yet to stop. One Stop all the way

down, until we get to Jarno Trulli. Rubens Barrichello passing Jarno

Trulli. Then, having a think about Jaime Alguersuari. It is getting

busy. We have a Virgin dropping out. Will we will not made a bid for

freedom, and we have our first retirement. -- the wheel nut made a

onto the track. -- locally, of the wheel. The lead is 2.8 seconds, he

is managing the car and the gap. has had to respond, because Mark

Webber was chipping away. He has sent the message back to Mark

Webber. It will have been broadcast from his engineer. RADIO: Good job.

Everybody likes a bit of encouragement, even if you are a

multiple champion. Whatever issue he has got, he is managing it

superbly, he is that chink Mark Webber. -- he is matching up Mark

Webber. Do you think they could have increased the calling or

anything like that? Once the race starts,... It is only going up to

the start line but you cannot do anything. They too often have

gaffer tape, which they can rip-off. Maybe Ted Kravitz can give us some

information? RADIO: How are the tyres? They are OK. After that

drive through, Bruno Senna in 16th place. I wonder what he will think

about the penalty. I think it was harsh. I think he than a bit deep

into the braking zone and made the first contact. You can squeeze a

Pollet a little bit. -- you can squeeze your opponent. You cannot

crowd someone towards the white line. But I agree, it was a racing

problem. You have to short shrift. -- shift. Bruno Senna under

pressure from Pastor Maldonado. They are fighting over 16th place.

The gap at the front is down to 2.3 seconds. Mark Webber is closing in.

It must be temperature related, it is not mechanically related.

could be a synchronisation issue. Part of what they do is make sure

they synchronise the gears. Mark Webber is sniffing the chance of

victory. He is only 2.3 seconds behind. They used to synchronise

better when you changed at peak revs. We are destined to an extent

what the problem might be. -- we are guessing. Ted Kravitz will find

out, if Red Bull will tell us. It seemed like he did a double shift.

If that was an error from Bruno Senna or, it has cost him a place.

I did that in the Pirelli test, daytimes are. -- many times. That

is not a good place. It is on the racing line, really. They should

not be any need to... A slow-motion replay of Michael Schumacher coming

back through the field. Batty's passing Jarno Trulli for 19th. --

that is passing Jarno Trulli. Have we got something else loose? That

is just helicopter tapir. -- tape. That is his mother. Ayrton Senna's

sister. She is nervously watching her son. There must be tremendous

emotion for that family. Kravitz? I have come to Red Bull,

the intention is for Sebastian Vettel to manage this. All of the

messages have been played out on the team radio feed cover so we

know as much as all of the people in the garage. RADIO: Short shrift

every corner. But then I will fall behind. He said he will give up the

place to his team-mate. They are looking at the telemetry. There was

a lot of red on detail and a shave. -- on the telemetry. It sounds like

it is getting even worse. Pastor Maldonado in the barriers. I

understood Sebastian Vettel to say, or I will not hold him up. They

have got seven seconds over Fernando Alonso. What of the

problem it is getting worse. -- whatever the problem is, it is

getting worse. I was focused on the Williams, I missed the end of the

radio. Sebastian Vettel will not get in the way of the interests of

the team. He does not know if he can make it to the end of the race.

It is a difficult position, where Pastor Maldonado is. They need to

recover it. Would this be a moment for a safety car? The verbal

engineers discussing. I would expect to see Mark Webber passing

Sebastian Vettel for the lead any time soon. Sebastian Vettel has

pulled out a bit, if anything. I would love to hear the radio

message again. Maybe we can transcribe it. Maybe he meant, I

would rather it blow up and I give this up. The gap is back-up. Now,

he lets him through. He did a faster lap, and let him through.

is managing the situation. That confirms what you've heard on the

lot of time. It was not the greatest race to do that at --

greatest place to do that. Team orders are allowed now. It was him

saying to the world, I have a problem, I am moving over. Mark

Webber leads. Can he take his first victory of the season? Mark Webber,

he has won six races before this. He has regularly been on the podium

this year. Jenson Button still ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Lewis

Hamilton is closing the gap again. Michael Schumacher there, he is a

lap down. It does not like Hamilton is coming back. Jenson Button was

better at activating his tyres. Michael Schumacher running over

some of the debris. I was wondering when we would see some action.

There was a little lifting of the hand. He may have felt he needed to

do that, because there was a yellow flashing. He needed to make it

clear that he was being allowed through. There is the yellow now.

He went past the yellow sign, what else could he do? Michael was

fielding. Ted Kravitz? Renault have made their second of two stops. I

listened to the team radio again for Sebastian Vettel. He said, I

will fall behind. He did not say, I will not fall behind. He was just

repeating the message. The problem seems to be with second and third

gear. It is the harder tyre for Jenson Button. Interesting. He will

have used both types of tyre. Will he get to the end on that? It is

the slower tyre. Maybe he is just getting this out of the way.

Although he said he was better with the balance on the harder tyre. But

the lap time is ticking. He would rather have that and be unhappy

with the balance than running around, smiling, with a slow lap

time. It is easy to make a fool of yourself, sweeping around the

inside of the third corner. It is easy to crash. Jenson Button is

behind Felipe Massa. We watched eagerly to see what kind of times

Jenson Button can extract out of a brand new set of medium compound

tyres. All of the engineers here will be looking at that information

Sebastian Vettel, who is about half a second a lap slower than Webber

at the moment. Quicker than Alonso. Let's see what Alonso has just

delivered, the same lap time. That gap is still about 7.5 seconds

between Vettel and Alonso. Hamilton now in fourth place. Button has

done his personal best middle sector on his out-lap. Still shiny

tyres from the releasing agent when they come out of the moulds. You

know you are about to receive an extra helping of grip when you get

those on. Mark Webber is the race leader. Lap 33. The gap to battle

was two seconds. He is 9.5 seconds ahead of Alonso, who is 6.5 ahead

of Lewis Hamilton. Felipe Massa just about hanging on, 28 seconds

off the lead. Button, having made that second stop, beginning to

close down Massa. Rosberg cruising along in seventh place. He has not

had the speed in that Mercedes-Benz. We want the prettied --

precipitation now. We need it now. We need it for the race. Mr angry

from Norfolk is now listening up -- loosening up. I can't see any dark

clouds around us now. Soft tyres, a different strategy for Hamilton

against what they put on the other left before down the hill, a right

and a long left and then you feed straight into the side of anybody...

He is still behind Button. But he is on a different tyre, this will

be very interesting indeed. McLaren have split their strategy. They are

trying to hang on to Alonso now. Red Bull are too far-out, surely.

Button has managed a 17.6 on his first flying lap on those hard

tyres. Hamilton did a 17.9 on his in-lap on the soft. Vettel and

Webber doing 1:17.0s at the moment. Vettel has just done his fastest

lap of the race with a dodgy gearbox! The track will be evolving.

Fuel burning off, card getting lighter and more responsive. A

little bit more comfortable in the braking zones. The change of

direction, the acceleration, less mass. Great, great racetrack.

Consistently above four g for the drivers. You will start to see a

few of them resting their heads inside those cockpits. The most

pathetic feeling when your neck goes and you can't do anything with

it. You don't want to touch the brake pedal or the throttle pedal

and you really don't want to turn the steering wheel, but somehow you

hang on when you're my neck muscles have given up. -- your neck muscles.

It is always incredible how fear and adrenalin can focus the mind.

They could be some rain on the way. Could be rain on the way. Go as

fast as possible on these tyres. Very clear message. 2.5 seconds is

the gap, Webber to Vettel. Alonso comes into the pits for Ferrari.

These men are waiting for their hero, Fernando Alonso. A set of

soft tyres going on so he will have to stop again this afternoon.

for Hamilton. Button will not have to stop. Perez recovering. That was

out of turn nine. The corner where you said in the commentary

yesterday, it comes up and mugs you. That is the corner he span on to

staff to wear Maldonado's car was there because the barriers. Sergio

Perez almost running in 12th place. Is the cart OK? Can you continue.

Yes, I can continue, no problem. Ted? At Red Bull they are saying

good job to Sebastian Vettel, keep going. He is managing the gearbox

well. McLaren, they said it was tactical for Button to go on to

that tyre. We will see whether he prefers it. Felipe Massa strategy

might work for him, two stops. He is putting in the times. He will

have to stretch this tyre out of 48 to make two stops work for him. He

might go past Alonso on that strategy. Bruno Senna is missing

fourth gear. We heard sunburst -- then a struggling for gears when he

got past by Maldonado. Here is that piece of plastic bag. I have seen

that so many times down the back straight. A wild crowd down there.

Even when you go on the formation lap, there's debris everywhere.

Sutil coming up the inside of di Resta. Sutil has had two stops so

that his game played by the Force India team. -- that is gameplay.

do have a gearbox problem. There's nothing you can do out there to

help. Just keep driving, keep going. They are all the fashion today.

never rains, but it pours. Sorry for mentioning the rain again.

Lewis Hamilton also nursing a box of cogs that don't fancy 71 laps of

the Interlagos circuit. Vettel is maintaining the gap to 2.6 seconds.

Only one stop so far from the Red Bulls so they are 26 clear of

Alonso. Alonso has just done a 17.0 and that is quick. Massa is hanging

on to him, just about. Button beginning to catch Massa. He is in

the DRS zone. On board with Hamilton. Button lining up for a

pass on the Ferrari. Doesn't look like it at this stage. But he is

certainly hounding Massa. Only done that one stop, of course. Let's run

through... Massa is up three places, Button down two. Jenson has used

both types of Tyre. He could go to the end if he wanted to. What will

they put on Mark Webber? Another set of the soft tyres. He will have

to stop again. Three stops for Mark Webber. Jenson is on a different

strategy compared to Hamilton and Webber. Let's see what they do with

Vettel. Alonso has just done a personal best. A long way behind

Webber. Barrichello has been lapped. This is the fight and the DRS Open.

The Jenson Button sails past with his rear wing open. Job done. Off

he goes. Look at the distance leads, will he pit? Yes, I can see

the Red Bull mechanics. Nice to see the pit lane from the commentary

box. It is essential. Now we know this man is pitting from what was

the lead. A problem on the down shift. Soft tyres have gone on,

same strategy as Webber. And also Hamilton and Alonso. Where is Mark

Webber? Turn One, he is well in the lead. They are on a three stock

strategy this afternoon, we expect them to come in again around lap 55.

Maybe even later if they can make these tyres last and give

themselves the shortest run possible on the hard tyre. It is

not holding Jenson Button back at the moment, 17.3 on his last lap.

Comparing favourably with Alonso on 17.0. Hamilton is catching Massa as

well. Fifth and sixth, Massa and Hamilton. Here we go with a replay.

Massa went to the inside, it was all he could do. He must have had a

problem because Jenson was out of the slipstream so early. He must

have lifted. Must have scared himself around there. As you say,

DRS doesn't account for all of that extra speed. No. Massa trying age

two-stop strategy this afternoon and looking as if that is not

working. Close your DRS-1 second per lap. Please save. We need your

points. Be careful with di Resta. We need your points against Toro

Rosso, not Force India. Don't run into a Force India. Mark Webber

does a new fastest lap, 1:16.484. Fernando Alonso, another second set

and - seven seconds. Ted has news on gearboxes. For Lewis Hamilton,

it is a shift problem. They are trying to get him to manage it.

They are keeping Lewis in. Paul di Resta comes in for a pit-stop for

up Vettel's problem is with second and third years particularly, but

he seems to be managing that. We're getting to the end of the gearboxes

on their four recycles, but because Vettel didn't finish the race in

flying in the first sector. Quickly catching Felipe Massa. They have

completed the second sector. A very short run up the hill, just 18

seconds. Lewis Hamilton has stopped twice, Massa has stopped once.

Webber leads Anne Vettel by 4.1. Alonso just 6.9 behind Vettel. He

is beginning to catch. This is his opportunity. He was not as close as

Button. Hamilton was a bit late. Surely just a matter of time, he

has used up all of his KERS. Not quite enough momentum. He has used

up his KERS and that will make it difficult for him on the run out of

turn 12, the last turn. It can only be a matter of time. A lot of

debris they have to be careful of through 5 and 6. It came off

Michael Schumacher's car. Diarrar is not available until after turn

three. -- DRS. It is all about getting a good exit speed out of

Juncao. Timo Glock's release will be investigated after the race.

That will be quick and easy as it only have three wheels on it when

it was released. The Ferrari has scampered away! He would presumably

look at the different strategies playing out, Button has a hard tyre

on, he needs to keep within 20 seconds of the Red Bulls, which is

not doing at the moment, to be able to use that strategy, but he is in

the hunt for Alonso. Third plays is on the cards for Jenson Button.

Let's transport the fans into the crash helmet. These two have come

together five times this year. Do you think Lewis will be giving him

a slightly wider berth? He has not been pushing his luck too much, has

he? I don't think so. Lewis is clearly struggling with the balance

a round this track and looked like coming off turn 10. It looked like

he had left one black line off the inside tyre. Maybe a differential

issue as well. But he is not getting close enough at the end of

the lap to then put himself in a position to capitalise. Is he

within a second here? He is. He has to get a good run through. You are

fighting the car in the middle of the turn and he is too far back

again. Ferrari is winding up on the middle of turn three, whereas

about beating McLaren, rather than trying to win the race, quite

clearly, and sensibly so. Vettel is now 4.6 seconds behind Webber.

Lewis was trying to get as close as he could through turn 12. Felipe

Massa gets a psychological gold star from his engineer. And Lewis

Hamilton going into the pit. they're fed up losing time behind

the Ferrari. They have now lost 7.5 seconds to Jenson Button. They were

quite close, if you remember. On go the medium compound tyres. He can

now drive to the end of the Grand Prix. They have obviously seen a

nice slot where they can put Lewis back on to the racetrack, where he

will not be in too much traffic. Let's see where that might be.

There's a bit of back marker traffic, that's the position,

Adrian Sutil is now head of Hamilton. So, they have certainly

put him into some clear air, but he has now got to catch and pass

Adrian Sutil. They must have a Adrian Sutil. They must have a

bigger issue than we were aware of, because Bateau very early, to do

your first stop, to try to go to the end. Could we be seeing four

stops this afternoon? As we are watching Webber and Vettel trading

fastest laps, Eddie has got some news on the race so far.

news on the race so far. interesting thing for me is the big

fight that we have got for sixth, seventh and eighth position, you

could even call it the Renault position. As it stands, Adrian

Sutil is lighting up the midfield, he's a now in seventh position, he

needs three more points over Vitaly Petrov to finish 9th in the

Championship, which would be a huge result for that team, and massive

going into next season. Thanks, Eddie. Massa has got the medium

compound on now. Another one driving to the end of the race,

then. As Michael Schumacher hunt down Heikki Kovalainen. Look at

that, Massa just in front of Lewis Hamilton. So, McLaren did not get

the undercut, it did not manage to use the new tyres to get their man

in front of Felipe Massa. As Rob Smedley said to his driver, the

longer you keep him behind you, the greater the chance we have got of

beating him, and they have given him a great chance now.

RADIO: You have to do everything you can to save the car, short

shift. He's getting that call because he just did his fastest lap

of the Grand Prix, he was beginning to close the gap back to Webber.

And his engineer was saying, look, you will not finish if you do not

slow down. Look in your mirrors, don't look at the Red Bull in her

view, that was the message, basically. -- the Red Bull ahead of

you. DAVID COULTHARD: That is all fine

and well saying that, short shrift, but it would be nice if he could be

more specific. They do have lights inside the cockpit, and they have

audio for the gear changing as well. Hamilton is going to park the car.

We had about a gearbox problem early on for Lewis Hamilton. Box of

neutrals. Sounds expensive. RADIO: Gearbox has gone. He's not

going to make it back to the pits. There is an orange marker, which is

where Charlie Whiting would tell the driver has to aim for.

closest I ever came to dying was on that corner, driving for McLaren.

Another driver ended up flying over my head, and hitting my head with

his Benetton. Thankfully there are gravel traps and some now. Is that

when you got on the radio to the team and said, I'm unconscious?

that's another English driver that's another English driver

you're talking about. So, Hamilton becomes the third retirement. And

you cannot damage your own gear box any more in Formula 1. It is all

done automatically. It is the luck of the draw. Ted Kravitz... Yes,

Lewis Hamilton's sometimes miserable season comes to a fairly

miserable end, even though he has won three races. It was no surprise

to anyone in this McLaren garage, even though they are gutted now,

with their heads hung low, they knew it was going to happen, it was

just a matter of time until his gearbox gave up the ghost. They're

not too confident about Jenson Button's ability to get to the end,

either. But they will give it a go. So, I'm looking at my Twitter, and

there's some fans saying, look, isn't this just Red Bull staging

this, so that Webber can win the race and maybe get second in the

World Championship? Do you buy into that conspiracy theory, David? As

Rosberg goes on the inside, but Sutil is carrying the momentum...

And Rosberg steams up the inside! Fantastic stuff. That's a clever

boy, that's someone who knows this racetrack. It is a very long run to

that apex, as we have been saying. Although Sutil clearly had the

track position on the outside, I think we have seen Rosberg doing

that before, when he was at Williams. He's fighting well for

that position. That is the battle for sixth and seventh. But I fear

his defence will be futile, because he is on a different strategy,

the job done. But Rosberg was, hang on, I'm coming back through. That

was good stuff, great driving, from both of them. Nico Rosberg, in the

last couple of races, since he has signed his contract, has been

really aggressive and racy, which is exactly what the Mercedes team

is exactly what the Mercedes team will want to see. He showed Michael

Schumacher what he thought of his pass in Abu Dhabi in the last race,

as, once again, Sutil lines himself up. Will he have learned from the

time before? Looks like he has got the job done this time. He gave him

the job done this time. He gave him a little fright on his way past.

And that was very easily done, good straight-line speed from the Force

India. And the gap at the front, 5.5 seconds now. But crucially,

Vettel is 9.8 seconds ahead of Alonso, despite his ailing car.

Mark Webber cruising away at the front. Vettel has been told to just

slow down and beat the Ferrari home. Nico Rosberg down into seventh

place now. And another replay of the second opportunity, and he

Rhigos, giving him a little frightened. He says, you will not

be doing that again! You do not see his brother very often, you often

see his father. Meanwhile, back with Sebastian Vettel. That's one

of the second gear corners. We heard from his engineer, short

shift, he has got a serious gearbox problem. There's the man that will

be trying to respond to that information. We have lost three

drivers, Hamilton, Maldonado and Glock. It is the first retirement

for Hamilton. That's because, when you change various strategies in

the cockpit, for instance, if you come in on a set of intermediate

tyres, the circumference is different, so the system has to be

reset. That's the only reason normally the red light would come

on. So, is he making adjustments in the cockpit to try and slow down

that shift, which is exactly what you were try and do in the wet? You

do not want to be shifting when you have got high wheel slippage.

Vettel still coaching his gearbox along. I was about to say,

Hamilton's first retirement since 2010, the Hungarian Grand Prix,

which was also gearbox. RADIO: Plus 11, Alonso. He's

pulling away easily now. So, the incredible reliability that McLaren

have had, with Lewis Hamilton, it have had, with Lewis Hamilton, it

is quite remarkable, when you consider what reliability was like

in Formula 1 just five years ago. Regularly you would lose six or

seven cars. Your strategy now, Mr Coulthard - it looks to me as if

Jenson Button will be looking pretty handy if he gets to the end.

Yes, if he can keep these tyres in this shape, and maintain the lap

time, with very low degradation on these tyres, he should get quicker.

And we have got McLaren out in the pit lane. So, Button coming in. I

was just about to say, if he did not have to do that stopped, he was

on to beat Alonso. That has got the hallmarks of a team that were not

expecting a driver, I thought. Has he gone on the hard tyres again? We

thought he might get to the end. needed to get to the end.

TED KRAVITZ: It was not going to work. It was worth a go, I suppose.

As Michael Schumacher stops to put on the harder tyre. There were

never going to do the 40 laps, because the wear and tear is about

the same. The team were expecting him, for whatever reason, Jenson