Brazilian Grand Prix - Practice 1

1:55:59 > 1:56:01Welcome to Sao Paolo in Brazil

1:56:01 > 1:56:03for the penultimate race weekend of the season.

1:56:03 > 1:56:06This incredible race track snakes through the hills

1:56:06 > 1:56:10high above one of the most populated cities in the world.

1:56:10 > 1:56:14Allan McNish, it's always such a pleasure to come to this circuit,

1:56:14 > 1:56:16but just look at it behind us. It looks like a rollercoaster.

1:56:16 > 1:56:18What's it like to drive?

1:56:18 > 1:56:21That's one of the reasons drivers like it so much.

1:56:21 > 1:56:22You've got a fast flowing section,

1:56:22 > 1:56:25but also in the middle sector here, it's extremely tight

1:56:25 > 1:56:27and it's also quite technical as well

1:56:27 > 1:56:30so it's hard for the driver, hard for the tyres

1:56:30 > 1:56:33and hard for the engineers as well to set up,

1:56:33 > 1:56:35but I think we're going to see extremely high top speeds here,

1:56:35 > 1:56:37over 210mph diving into turn one.

1:56:37 > 1:56:40But what are we going to see weather-wise?

1:56:40 > 1:56:43Because this race always throws up some real surprises.

1:56:43 > 1:56:46We've not actually had a dry Friday since the Singapore Grand Prix.

1:56:46 > 1:56:49I imagine the teams will be out on track wet or dry

1:56:49 > 1:56:52- just to get the experience. - The sun's out at the moment

1:56:52 > 1:56:54and we know that Free Practice One is going to be dry.

1:56:54 > 1:56:57However, weather forecast is for thunderstorms

1:56:57 > 1:56:59and rain through the course of the weekend and this afternoon

1:56:59 > 1:57:02so I think they will be getting out onto track a lot this morning

1:57:02 > 1:57:05because if it is the only dry session

1:57:05 > 1:57:07and the track surface changed last year,

1:57:07 > 1:57:08we saw very high track temperatures

1:57:08 > 1:57:10and that had a big effect on the tyres

1:57:10 > 1:57:13so I think they'll try to gain as much experience as they can

1:57:13 > 1:57:15in the dry, but clearly in the wet as well.

1:57:15 > 1:57:18Lewis Hamilton has never actually won at this circuit

1:57:18 > 1:57:21and he's not really had a great week of preparation so far.

1:57:21 > 1:57:23He arrives here a little under the weather, he's been struggling

1:57:23 > 1:57:26with a fever, but you might have seen the headlines.

1:57:26 > 1:57:28In Monday night in Monaco,

1:57:28 > 1:57:32he managed to crash his £1.5 million supercar.

1:57:32 > 1:57:35He'll be hoping for a trouble-free session at the least, but hopefully

1:57:35 > 1:57:38he'll be here making the headlines for the right reasons this weekend.

1:57:38 > 1:57:41It's business as usual and, as you can see,

1:57:41 > 1:57:44for the second year in a row, he is the one who tops the table.

1:57:44 > 1:57:48The winner last time out in Mexico, Nico Rosberg,

1:57:48 > 1:57:51he moves back up to second in the championship after Vettel's DNF

1:57:51 > 1:57:54in the Mexican Grand Prix, he's now trailing by 21 points.

1:57:54 > 1:57:57The Finns who can't seem to keep apart on the racetrack

1:57:57 > 1:57:58are pretty close here, too.

1:57:58 > 1:58:01Bottas leads Raikkonen by three points

1:58:01 > 1:58:04and good to see Max Verstappen in tenth in his rookie season.

1:58:04 > 1:58:07Mercedes sewed up the constructors' title three races ago in Russia

1:58:07 > 1:58:09and Ferrari are in second.

1:58:09 > 1:58:12Williams come next, but it gets a little more interesting

1:58:12 > 1:58:13if we look further down that table.

1:58:13 > 1:58:15Force India seem in control in fifth,

1:58:15 > 1:58:18but could still be vulnerable to Lotus, who are chased by Toro Rosso.

1:58:18 > 1:58:20The only race McLaren are in

1:58:20 > 1:58:22is trying to pass Sauber in the championship,

1:58:22 > 1:58:24sadly, if not on track.

1:58:24 > 1:58:28The Mexican Grand Prix, the atmosphere was amazing.

1:58:28 > 1:58:32Nico Rosberg seems determined to finish this season in style

1:58:32 > 1:58:34and win every race and he dominated in Mexico.

1:58:34 > 1:58:37He certainly did and if we rewind last year here,

1:58:37 > 1:58:40he also dominated all the way through practice

1:58:40 > 1:58:42and he won the race as well from pole position

1:58:42 > 1:58:45and that was basically one of his strongest race weekends last year

1:58:45 > 1:58:48so he needs to do that going into Abu Dhabi

1:58:48 > 1:58:50because he needs to build himself for 2016.

1:58:50 > 1:58:52This year's clearly gone,

1:58:52 > 1:58:54he's only got the fight for second in the championship,

1:58:54 > 1:58:58but it is going to be a tough battle for Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

1:58:58 > 1:59:00And what did you make of another coming together

1:59:00 > 1:59:02from Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen?

1:59:02 > 1:59:05They're both fighting for fourth in the championship

1:59:05 > 1:59:08and the reason they're so close in the points

1:59:08 > 1:59:09is because their cars are quite equal

1:59:09 > 1:59:11and they're equal in performance

1:59:11 > 1:59:14so it's no surprise they end up in the same bit of tarmac,

1:59:14 > 1:59:21but it's two Finns and this weekend, they've got a Finnish steward

1:59:21 > 1:59:23so I'm sure both of them end up there,

1:59:23 > 1:59:26there's going to be a lot of strong talking Finnish language coming out.

1:59:26 > 1:59:29They'll certainly all be able to understand each other.

1:59:29 > 1:59:33In the commentary box today, we have Ben Edwards and Tony Dodgins.

1:59:33 > 1:59:36We touched upon the fantastic atmosphere in Mexico,

1:59:36 > 1:59:39but this place certainly knows how to put on a party.

1:59:39 > 1:59:40It does indeed, Lee.

1:59:40 > 1:59:42There's always been great passion

1:59:42 > 1:59:44going right back to when Emerson Fittipaldi,

1:59:44 > 1:59:48the Brazilian driver, won the first Grand Prix held here in 1973

1:59:48 > 1:59:50and that's just part of the passion

1:59:50 > 1:59:52that has been created here over the years, Tony.

1:59:52 > 1:59:55They love it here. Emerson was a great global celebrity

1:59:55 > 1:59:58and he was sort of on the same level as Pele back in 1970

1:59:58 > 2:00:00when he won his fourth Grand Prix

2:00:00 > 2:00:03and so he brought motor racing to Brazil and they just love it.

2:00:04 > 2:00:07The session is just getting underway now.

2:00:07 > 2:00:10Cars heading down to the end of the pit lane and they've got to bend

2:00:10 > 2:00:13their way on the inside of the first corner to get out

2:00:13 > 2:00:16onto the track here, it's a left and right down the hill.

2:00:16 > 2:00:19Revised paddock facilities which we probably won't see much

2:00:19 > 2:00:23actual footage of because they're tucked in behind the pit garages,

2:00:23 > 2:00:26but there's been quite a lot of work done since the race here

2:00:26 > 2:00:30last year to build a new hospitality building for all of the race team.

2:00:30 > 2:00:31Not quite finished yet,

2:00:31 > 2:00:35so it doesn't look as immaculate as it might have done.

2:00:35 > 2:00:36There are a few rough edges around.

2:00:36 > 2:00:40It's not quite finished, but the press room's still the same,

2:00:40 > 2:00:43but who cares? It's a great facility and it's got real passion.

2:00:43 > 2:00:47- It's like Mexico, it's one of those venues.- It is, definitely.

2:00:47 > 2:00:50Daniil Kvyat, one of the early drivers on circuit.

2:00:50 > 2:00:51Jolyon Palmer is on track,

2:00:51 > 2:00:54you just saw the Lotus heading down to do a practice start.

2:00:54 > 2:00:56I think he's the only third driver to be out this morning.

2:00:56 > 2:00:59I think all the regulars are aboard their cars apart from Jolyon Palmer,

2:00:59 > 2:01:04who of course will be a regular next year when he drives for Lotus.

2:01:04 > 2:01:07Again, Lotus have had a few problems this weekend.

2:01:07 > 2:01:08They weren't allowed access to their cars

2:01:08 > 2:01:12here at the circuit on Wednesday, but thankfully things were sorted out

2:01:12 > 2:01:15by Thursday and the mechanics could get to work on their cars.

2:01:15 > 2:01:18Nico Hulkenberg ready to come out for Force India.

2:01:18 > 2:01:22He's always gone well here in the past so he could be one to watch.

2:01:22 > 2:01:25He had a pole position very famously with Williams, but he's also

2:01:25 > 2:01:28led on a couple of occasions, including last year for a while.

2:01:28 > 2:01:31He was out of sequence in terms of pit stops with some of the others,

2:01:31 > 2:01:32but he always goes well here.

2:01:32 > 2:01:36He does, he had a fantastic race in 2012, battling with the McLarens.

2:01:36 > 2:01:39He was outbraking McLarens into Turn 1 and that was a fabulous drive

2:01:39 > 2:01:43and the pole position you mentioned, that was really good.

2:01:43 > 2:01:47It was changing conditions and you had to seize the moment

2:01:47 > 2:01:48and he did exactly that

2:01:48 > 2:01:51and served notice of intent and showed his talent.

2:01:51 > 2:01:54There's a big aero rake as they're referred to

2:01:54 > 2:01:56on the back of Kimi Raikkonen's car.

2:01:56 > 2:01:59It's a series of tubes just to measure the airflow

2:01:59 > 2:02:02that's really coming off the rear wheel.

2:02:02 > 2:02:05Of course, an open-wheel single seater Formula One car

2:02:05 > 2:02:07throws a lot of turbulence off the tyres

2:02:07 > 2:02:11and what they're trying to do is measure that turbulence off the tyre

2:02:11 > 2:02:13and how it affects around the rear wing

2:02:13 > 2:02:16and around the diffuser, the lower part of the back of the car,

2:02:16 > 2:02:19underneath the gearbox. The engine and gearbox right at the back

2:02:19 > 2:02:22and it's that airflow around that section that is so vital.

2:02:22 > 2:02:24Absolutely, it's the diffuser that generates

2:02:24 > 2:02:26most of the downforce on a Formula One car

2:02:26 > 2:02:29and there's a lot of gains to be made in that area

2:02:29 > 2:02:30and about getting the airflow

2:02:30 > 2:02:32from the front to the back efficiently

2:02:32 > 2:02:33and getting the downforce,

2:02:33 > 2:02:36but they want to know exactly what's going on in that area.

2:02:36 > 2:02:38The Williams of Felipe Massa on track,

2:02:38 > 2:02:42one of two Brazilians racing here this weekend, both called Felipe.

2:02:42 > 2:02:46Felipe Massa and Felipe Nasr were in the press conference yesterday,

2:02:46 > 2:02:49talking to the world's assembled media.

2:02:49 > 2:02:52He's won twice here, but it's a bit of a long gap

2:02:52 > 2:02:56since he last took a victory, that very famous win in 2008.

2:02:56 > 2:02:59Yeah, you had to feel so sorry for him on that occasion.

2:02:59 > 2:03:02I know it was Lewis's title, but it was the most dramatic conclusion

2:03:02 > 2:03:04to a season in Formula One history.

2:03:04 > 2:03:07But the way he handled that - for 20 odd seconds,

2:03:07 > 2:03:09he thought he was world champion

2:03:09 > 2:03:11and then Lewis got the required place -

2:03:11 > 2:03:15he got the point and Felipe had to swallow that disappointment.

2:03:15 > 2:03:17I think he handled himself impeccably.

2:03:17 > 2:03:20Yeah, and he spoke very well yesterday of the delights

2:03:20 > 2:03:23of driving here on his home track. It means so much to him.

2:03:23 > 2:03:25He was born in Sao Paolo,

2:03:25 > 2:03:27he grew up karting on the kart track,

2:03:27 > 2:03:30which is just over to the side of this main Grand Prix circuit

2:03:30 > 2:03:34so it means a massive amount to him to be racing once again here.

2:03:34 > 2:03:36So he's brought the car in.

2:03:36 > 2:03:39Most cars have been out just for their normal installation lap.

2:03:39 > 2:03:41Nobody completing a flying lap as yet.

2:03:41 > 2:03:45Fernando Alonso is also running some aero testing equipment

2:03:45 > 2:03:48at the front of the car so it's hanging down beside the cockpit

2:03:48 > 2:03:52and trying to check out the airflow around the front end.

2:03:52 > 2:03:54He was quite interesting, talking yesterday about this season,

2:03:54 > 2:03:57which of course has been really determined

2:03:57 > 2:04:01by the lack of performance from the Honda engine.

2:04:01 > 2:04:04But interestingly he made the point that perhaps he hasn't delivered

2:04:04 > 2:04:06his best game this year as well.

2:04:06 > 2:04:07He was quite candid about that.

2:04:07 > 2:04:10He said there had been odd laps here and there

2:04:10 > 2:04:11which had been sensational.

2:04:11 > 2:04:17He talked about a lap in Japan, he said his Austin race was great,

2:04:17 > 2:04:20but he said, apart from that, he said you get more motivation

2:04:20 > 2:04:22when you're racing in the front

2:04:22 > 2:04:24so perhaps he was on energy saving mode

2:04:24 > 2:04:27and needs to come back better next year.

2:04:27 > 2:04:30He's hoping that they make an advance over the winter

2:04:30 > 2:04:32and he's able to compete at the front,

2:04:32 > 2:04:34which is where he feels he belongs.

2:04:34 > 2:04:37I think a lot of F1 fans are hoping McLaren and Honda,

2:04:37 > 2:04:39in particular, make that big step.

2:04:39 > 2:04:41Allan's now with us from the pit lane.

2:04:41 > 2:04:45Allan, just talk to us a bit about those comments Alonso made yesterday.

2:04:45 > 2:04:48In terms of motivation, for a driver of his calibre,

2:04:48 > 2:04:52a double world champion, a man used to scoring wins and podiums,

2:04:52 > 2:04:55it must have been a tough season to keep motivated in.

2:04:55 > 2:04:58Yes, I think it was, but 12 months ago,

2:04:58 > 2:05:00that was one of the reasons he left Ferrari

2:05:00 > 2:05:02because he wasn't motivated

2:05:02 > 2:05:05and feeling that he had the chance to win a world championship,

2:05:05 > 2:05:08but now Sebastian Vettel's won three Grands Prix in the car

2:05:08 > 2:05:13that he vacated and he couldn't see the podium in the McLaren so far

2:05:13 > 2:05:17and so it's been a very tough year for him. He hasn't driven his best.

2:05:17 > 2:05:20I think that he's had very strong performances,

2:05:20 > 2:05:24but he hasn't dominated in terms of speed over Jenson Button.

2:05:24 > 2:05:27I thought he should have done with the reputation

2:05:27 > 2:05:31that he arrived at McLaren with and so, from that point of view,

2:05:31 > 2:05:32he's maybe right and so he's got to dig deep

2:05:32 > 2:05:36and we do know something about Fernando Alonso -

2:05:36 > 2:05:37when he puts his mind to it,

2:05:37 > 2:05:40he can dig deep and he can pull the performances out.

2:05:40 > 2:05:43Absolutely right. We're just over five and a half minutes

2:05:43 > 2:05:46into this first 90 minute practice session

2:05:46 > 2:05:48and it is just a practice session,

2:05:48 > 2:05:51it means nothing in terms of where they qualify,

2:05:51 > 2:05:53but it is all useful data gathering.

2:05:53 > 2:05:58Tony, Jenson Button hosted a media event earlier this week in Sao Paolo

2:05:58 > 2:06:00and you were chatting to him.

2:06:00 > 2:06:03He seems to have kept his spirits up pretty well throughout the season

2:06:03 > 2:06:06and of course the same difficulties at McLaren-Honda.

2:06:06 > 2:06:10Yeah, he's another one, obviously world champion in 2009...

2:06:10 > 2:06:14Just before we go into that, look at the front end of the Mercedes car.

2:06:14 > 2:06:16Where the number 44 is on the car,

2:06:16 > 2:06:19you'll see a little blister on the front of the car.

2:06:19 > 2:06:22This is a new duct that they're running on the Mercedes

2:06:22 > 2:06:24this weekend just to look at airflow.

2:06:24 > 2:06:27Allan, I know that you were intrigued by this as well.

2:06:27 > 2:06:29This is just in front of it.

2:06:29 > 2:06:32It's on both cars here, on Nico Rosberg's and Lewis Hamilton's.

2:06:32 > 2:06:36It's a development for next year, they're trying it out here.

2:06:36 > 2:06:38They've got the championship sewn up.

2:06:38 > 2:06:41What it does is increases the airflow

2:06:41 > 2:06:43underneath the front wing of the car

2:06:43 > 2:06:45so it speeds up the airflow under the car

2:06:45 > 2:06:48which then makes the floor more efficient,

2:06:48 > 2:06:49produce more downforce

2:06:49 > 2:06:53and in a ratio of downforce from the floor relative to the wing,

2:06:53 > 2:06:56it increases the efficiency of the floor,

2:06:56 > 2:06:59which means they can ultimately take some draggy rear wing

2:06:59 > 2:07:02off the car and still have the same cornering potential.

2:07:02 > 2:07:05It's been trialled and used by a couple of other teams,

2:07:05 > 2:07:08but this is the first time we've seen it on the Mercedes.

2:07:08 > 2:07:11OK, back to you, Tony. We were talking about Jenson Button.

2:07:11 > 2:07:14Yeah, he was saying driving against Fernando is enough

2:07:14 > 2:07:18to maintain your motivation cos no matter what Alonso may say

2:07:18 > 2:07:20and being a bit self-critical,

2:07:20 > 2:07:23I think he was overly self-critical, to be quite honest.

2:07:23 > 2:07:26You look at the season he's had and he hasn't been sensational,

2:07:26 > 2:07:28but you're talking about degrees.

2:07:28 > 2:07:30You're not talking about poor,

2:07:30 > 2:07:32you're talking about excellent minus, I think,

2:07:32 > 2:07:36and in the races, he's probably outpaced Jenson most of the time

2:07:36 > 2:07:39so Jenson's said that's all you need to keep the motivation up,

2:07:39 > 2:07:41a team-mate like that,

2:07:41 > 2:07:43and he is hoping for the same kind of progress.

2:07:43 > 2:07:47He said a win might be asking too much, but at least

2:07:47 > 2:07:49competing at the front he's hoping to be able to do next year.

2:07:49 > 2:07:53As I say, a lot of F1 fans will be hoping for the same,

2:07:53 > 2:07:55to see more battling going on at the top end

2:07:55 > 2:07:57and a great team like McLaren-Honda near the front again.

2:07:57 > 2:08:01Carlos Sainz focused as he prepares to come out on track.

2:08:01 > 2:08:04He's never driven this circuit before so he's one of the few drivers

2:08:04 > 2:08:06never to have driven a lap here,

2:08:06 > 2:08:09but certainly looking forward to it

2:08:09 > 2:08:12and feeling that the Toro Rosso should be reasonably good

2:08:12 > 2:08:14through the twisty sections.

2:08:14 > 2:08:18It will lose out on the long drag up the hill out to the final corner,

2:08:18 > 2:08:21it's a very long section as they come up over the line.

2:08:21 > 2:08:23Max Verstappen HAS driven here before

2:08:23 > 2:08:26because he did the free practice session here last year.

2:08:26 > 2:08:29After it was announced he would be joining the team,

2:08:29 > 2:08:32he put in a very good session, actually.

2:08:32 > 2:08:36He was sixth fastest in that first practice session here last year.

2:08:36 > 2:08:39Good weather throughout most of last year's event.

2:08:39 > 2:08:42We had some very high track temperatures on this new surface,

2:08:42 > 2:08:45which saw the soft tyre not lasting long in the race.

2:08:45 > 2:08:48Most top drivers went for a three-stop race.

2:08:48 > 2:08:52We won't see that soft tyre out until later, but it was interesting

2:08:52 > 2:08:55to note that it really didn't last that long in that first stint.

2:08:55 > 2:08:58No, I think last year we had the highest track temperatures

2:08:58 > 2:08:59of the whole season here

2:08:59 > 2:09:03and they were coming in after seven laps for the first stop

2:09:03 > 2:09:07and they were doing three stops and going soft-medium-medium-medium.

2:09:07 > 2:09:09You might get a couple of two-stoppers here,

2:09:09 > 2:09:12but depending on track temperatures and the weather,

2:09:12 > 2:09:15we'll have to see how that develops as the weekend goes on.

2:09:15 > 2:09:17Sebastian Vettel ready to come out.

2:09:17 > 2:09:19Allan, what are your thoughts on strategy,

2:09:19 > 2:09:23decision making at least if we get a dry race?

2:09:23 > 2:09:25It all goes up in the air if we get a wet one.

2:09:25 > 2:09:28The tarmac surface is going to be the determining factor

2:09:28 > 2:09:29if it's wet or dry

2:09:29 > 2:09:33because the track surface has got a huge amount of grip,

2:09:33 > 2:09:35but with that, it means it's also got a lot of wear.

2:09:35 > 2:09:37We saw a lot of blistering last year

2:09:37 > 2:09:40and that was the critical factor on that soft tyre.

2:09:40 > 2:09:42However, the tyre is a little bit more robust

2:09:42 > 2:09:46than it was 12 months ago with the carcass of the tyre spreading

2:09:46 > 2:09:49the temperature more evenly over the surface,

2:09:49 > 2:09:52but it still will be a factor.

2:09:52 > 2:09:53Yesterday, when they had cloud cover,

2:09:53 > 2:09:55it was still at 42 degrees Celsius.

2:09:55 > 2:09:57Therefore, I expect to see pretty high temperatures

2:09:57 > 2:09:59by the end of the session.

2:09:59 > 2:10:01But if it's wet, because it's such a closed surface,

2:10:01 > 2:10:03there's nowhere for the water to go at all

2:10:03 > 2:10:06and so you normally get a lot of rivers here anyway,

2:10:06 > 2:10:09but I think you'll also see some standing water and some puddles.

2:10:09 > 2:10:13The track is definitely going to create some engineering problems

2:10:13 > 2:10:15and maybe some driving ones as well.

2:10:15 > 2:10:17They'll have to be gentle on that right foot.

2:10:17 > 2:10:19We'll look forward to that.

2:10:19 > 2:10:23It is a track that certainly means you can't take too many liberties.

2:10:23 > 2:10:26We're watching Max Verstappen in his Toro Rosso,

2:10:26 > 2:10:28heading down towards Turn 4,

2:10:28 > 2:10:32the corner that Lewis Hamilton spun at last year

2:10:32 > 2:10:35and actually it was an interesting weekend from the point of view

2:10:35 > 2:10:36of the two Mercedes team-mates

2:10:36 > 2:10:39because Rosberg actually dominated this event.

2:10:39 > 2:10:42He was fastest in nearly all of the sessions going through,

2:10:42 > 2:10:45he was fastest in all the practice sessions

2:10:45 > 2:10:49and then took pole position by 0.03 from Lewis Hamilton,

2:10:49 > 2:10:51but in the race, he led,

2:10:51 > 2:10:54Hamilton went on a charge around the pit stops, but he made a mistake.

2:10:54 > 2:10:57It is interesting because normally in race conditions,

2:10:57 > 2:11:00Lewis has the upper hand, but every so often,

2:11:00 > 2:11:03you come to a circuit a bit like the last race in Mexico

2:11:03 > 2:11:05when you see that Nico somewhere has got an advantage

2:11:05 > 2:11:11and he seems to tune in mentally and he's strong the whole weekend,

2:11:11 > 2:11:13gets the job done, doesn't make a mistake

2:11:13 > 2:11:15and, every so often, beats Lewis.

2:11:15 > 2:11:16It doesn't happen often,

2:11:16 > 2:11:19but it happened here and it happened last time out.

2:11:19 > 2:11:21We're on board with Max Verstappen.

2:11:21 > 2:11:24He's climbing up the hill across the start/finish line.

2:11:24 > 2:11:27Pit lane on the left-hand side and into the Senna S,

2:11:27 > 2:11:29which is very demanding on the brakes,

2:11:29 > 2:11:32just to get the speed of entry into the corner right.

2:11:32 > 2:11:35Into the left-hand, it drops steeply downhill,

2:11:35 > 2:11:38which doesn't come across so much on the TV screens,

2:11:38 > 2:11:40but it does drop quite severely there

2:11:40 > 2:11:43and then he's through Turn 3 and along the back stretch.

2:11:43 > 2:11:46Sergio Perez, the star of Mexico in many ways

2:11:46 > 2:11:48because there was so much attention on him

2:11:48 > 2:11:51throughout the course of the weekend, came home with a points finish

2:11:51 > 2:11:55and still relishing the whole experience, I think.

2:11:55 > 2:11:57Very mature, Sergio Perez now,

2:11:57 > 2:12:01appreciating just what a special event that Mexican Grand Prix was.

2:12:01 > 2:12:04Won by Nico Rosberg, of course, who we see on track now,

2:12:04 > 2:12:07but it was all about the passion of the fans

2:12:07 > 2:12:10and the return of Formula One to a city that had enjoyed it in the past

2:12:10 > 2:12:13- and certainly lapped it up on this occasion.- Absolutely.

2:12:13 > 2:12:17He's had a good season, I've been impressed by him this year

2:12:17 > 2:12:19and the team are very happy with him,

2:12:19 > 2:12:22he's fitted in very well there and we talked about that thing

2:12:22 > 2:12:25with Jenson on the Wednesday night,

2:12:25 > 2:12:28he took the whole Force India team out, almost 70 of them,

2:12:28 > 2:12:32bought them a meal and they're having a good relationship there

2:12:32 > 2:12:36and they punch above their weight in many ways, that team,

2:12:36 > 2:12:39and with a bit more budget, which they're hoping to have next year,

2:12:39 > 2:12:41it'll be interesting to see what they can do.

2:12:41 > 2:12:45Lewis Hamilton makes his way down the pit lane now to put in a few laps.

2:12:45 > 2:12:48Verstappen has set the first actual flying lap,

2:12:48 > 2:12:53a 1:16.1, as Rosberg is already pushing on quite hard.

2:12:53 > 2:12:57Don't forget, you can get in touch with us using the hashtag #BBCF1,

2:12:57 > 2:13:00it'd be great to have your comments and we've also been asking you

2:13:00 > 2:13:04some of your favourite memories of the races here in Brazil

2:13:04 > 2:13:05and several of you saying

2:13:05 > 2:13:08it has to be Lewis winning the world title in 2008,

2:13:08 > 2:13:11a race that Tony mentioned a few moments ago,

2:13:11 > 2:13:14but also where Jenson Button wrapped up his title,

2:13:14 > 2:13:18another very special weekend for British motorsport fans.

2:13:18 > 2:13:19It was indeed.

2:13:19 > 2:13:23It was one of those races where he came in and he had it all to lose.

2:13:23 > 2:13:27He had to get it over the line, he had to get the points

2:13:27 > 2:13:30and he could have lost it and a very tense weekend.

2:13:30 > 2:13:34His qualifying wasn't great and I remember those pictures of him

2:13:34 > 2:13:37and his dad at the end embracing and it was just great to see.

2:13:37 > 2:13:40The funny thing was that both Jenson Button

2:13:40 > 2:13:42and Lewis Hamilton wrapped up their titles in 2008/2009

2:13:42 > 2:13:46with a fifth place finish in those two successive years.

2:13:46 > 2:13:50It was enough in both cases for them to wrap up their titles,

2:13:50 > 2:13:52but very special memories.

2:13:52 > 2:13:56Let's see what Rosberg's first flying lap is, it will be rapid.

2:13:56 > 2:13:58Yes, puts him straight to the top of the tree.

2:13:58 > 2:14:00Not by a huge amount, he does 1:15.9.

2:14:00 > 2:14:04Verstappen's already done a 1:16.1, Sainz on a 1:17.0.

2:14:04 > 2:14:08Sainz still learning the track, getting used to how it feels.

2:14:08 > 2:14:12We are at a slight altitude here, it's about 800 metres

2:14:12 > 2:14:17so we've got a little bit of that lower density air,

2:14:17 > 2:14:21but nothing like as serious as we had in Mexico where Toro Rosso,

2:14:21 > 2:14:24for example, were in quite a lot of difficulty in terms of cooling

2:14:24 > 2:14:28through the race and I was talking to one of their guys yesterday

2:14:28 > 2:14:30and, at some stages during the race,

2:14:30 > 2:14:33the drivers were having to lift off the throttle for three seconds

2:14:33 > 2:14:35at the end of the straight to ensure

2:14:35 > 2:14:37that there was enough cooling of the engine

2:14:37 > 2:14:39because they were really marginal.

2:14:39 > 2:14:41As you say, it is 800 metres.

2:14:41 > 2:14:44Mexico, we're talking about 2,200 metres

2:14:44 > 2:14:47so a substantial difference, almost three times higher, Mexico.

2:14:47 > 2:14:50- RADIO:- OK, Max, we need to lift off for engine temperatures.

2:14:50 > 2:14:55But here it is enough to influence things like aero set-up.

2:14:55 > 2:14:58They do run a higher set-up than they otherwise would do

2:14:58 > 2:15:00because of the thinner air.

2:15:00 > 2:15:03That's certainly something hopefully in terms of temperatures,

2:15:03 > 2:15:05although that was interesting that already

2:15:05 > 2:15:07they were saying to Max, "We need to lift off

2:15:07 > 2:15:11"o cool engine temperatures," so that was intriguing.

2:15:11 > 2:15:14The track temperature is 38 at the moment, air temperature 27,

2:15:14 > 2:15:16could easily be more than that.

2:15:16 > 2:15:19Let's take a look at a replay of Carlos Sainz a moment ago.

2:15:19 > 2:15:22He's still learning the track

2:15:22 > 2:15:24and you can just see a little lock-up on the right front,

2:15:24 > 2:15:26but that is a corner where we'll see a lot of that

2:15:26 > 2:15:28as we go through the course of the weekend.

2:15:28 > 2:15:31There's nothing unusual to see a little lock-up there,

2:15:31 > 2:15:33so we'll see plenty more of that

2:15:33 > 2:15:36throughout the course of the next few days.

2:15:36 > 2:15:37Rosberg fastest then,

2:15:37 > 2:15:40he's just gone a little bit faster on his second flying lap, 1:15.5.

2:15:40 > 2:15:43We've got a yellow, now somebody's off.

2:15:43 > 2:15:46Couldn't quite see who that was disappearing behind the wall there.

2:15:46 > 2:15:49I don't think there's any major drama.

2:15:49 > 2:15:52Ah, yes, it's just rejoining.

2:15:52 > 2:15:55It's Max getting back on again so Verstappen just running

2:15:55 > 2:15:59a little bit wide, but obviously sorting everything out.

2:15:59 > 2:16:01Let's see how it looked from the onboard view.

2:16:01 > 2:16:05He came down the Senna S through the right-hand part,

2:16:05 > 2:16:08through the left-hand kick...

2:16:08 > 2:16:11Oh, yes, he got a big oversteer through the left-hand part!

2:16:11 > 2:16:13Big, big slide.

2:16:13 > 2:16:18Then he had to try and spin turn it and that's when he obviously used

2:16:18 > 2:16:21some of the extra part of the track to do so.

2:16:21 > 2:16:24Sebastian Vettel kicking up the sparks in the Ferrari.

2:16:24 > 2:16:30And did he have a spin as well? Oh, yes, he did. He went very wide.

2:16:30 > 2:16:33Well, of course, he made a lot of mistakes in Mexico last time out.

2:16:33 > 2:16:36Yeah, he definitely went off here, didn't he?

2:16:36 > 2:16:40- RADIO:- Locked the rear a little bit.

2:16:40 > 2:16:45This is the corner where famously Kimi Raikkonen went off back in 2012

2:16:45 > 2:16:47and decided to go a very strange route,

2:16:47 > 2:16:50found the gate was closed and had to come back again to get on the track.

2:16:50 > 2:16:53Yeah, he did!

2:16:53 > 2:16:57But Vettel, of course, has had a lot of success here in the past.

2:16:57 > 2:16:59He's had two wins, 2010, 2013,

2:16:59 > 2:17:03and also won the title here in that remarkable race of 2012,

2:17:03 > 2:17:06a race that Hamilton came closest to winning this Grand Prix.

2:17:06 > 2:17:13He went out in a clash with Nico Hulkenberg and dropped places,

2:17:13 > 2:17:16didn't go out completely, but that was a disappointment for Hamilton

2:17:16 > 2:17:21who, as he said, really wants to win this Grand Prix

2:17:21 > 2:17:24and he's gone fastest straight away, 1:15.1.

2:17:24 > 2:17:27It took Ayrton Senna seven years to win this one.

2:17:27 > 2:17:30This is Lewis's ninth attempt

2:17:30 > 2:17:33so he said if he can get it done this time, that will be all good.

2:17:33 > 2:17:37He's very determined, very fired up to try and win it this weekend

2:17:37 > 2:17:42and that's a very good opening foray there with a lap time of 1:15.1.

2:17:42 > 2:17:45Of course, the track will be still gaining some grip

2:17:45 > 2:17:47and getting faster and faster as we go through this session.

2:17:47 > 2:17:50But the early laps on this medium compound tyre are often the ones

2:17:50 > 2:17:53that determine the lap time. Improvement there from Rosberg

2:17:53 > 2:17:57to close within two-hundredths of a second of Hamilton's time,

2:17:57 > 2:17:59but watch out for Hamilton,

2:17:59 > 2:18:01I think he might put a series of relatively quick laps together here.

2:18:01 > 2:18:04Alonso on track, Palmer pops in a lap time

2:18:04 > 2:18:06that puts him seventh for the moment.

2:18:06 > 2:18:0911 cars have so far established a lap time,

2:18:09 > 2:18:12still waiting for several others to come out

2:18:12 > 2:18:15and put in a series of flying laps,

2:18:15 > 2:18:19but that's fairly conventional running on a Friday morning.

2:18:19 > 2:18:22They might try and get a bit more running in

2:18:22 > 2:18:24with that forecast of rain for the second session,

2:18:24 > 2:18:26but I think generally you will see them

2:18:26 > 2:18:28stick with the medium compound tyre.

2:18:28 > 2:18:30They've got this extra set that they can use now

2:18:30 > 2:18:33in the first half an hour so they've still got another ten minutes

2:18:33 > 2:18:37or so of use on this tyre before they have to take that set of tyres off,

2:18:37 > 2:18:40give them back to the FIA and then put on a new set.

2:18:40 > 2:18:42Button's just gone sixth quickest

2:18:42 > 2:18:44so that's a reasonably encouraging start

2:18:44 > 2:18:46as we look at Marcus Ericsson...

2:18:46 > 2:18:48Sorry, we're looking at Felipe Nasr,

2:18:48 > 2:18:51we're looking at the other Sauber at the moment, the Brazilian,

2:18:51 > 2:18:54of course, who is going to be racing on a home track.

2:18:54 > 2:18:58He did race here in the Formula BMW days, his junior days.

2:18:58 > 2:19:02He raced against Alexander Rossi here in Formula BMW.

2:19:02 > 2:19:05That was the first race he ever did out of karts

2:19:05 > 2:19:07when he came here and Rossi did that whole season

2:19:07 > 2:19:12and won the BMW championship and Felipe Nasr did that last race,

2:19:12 > 2:19:15which supported the Brazilian Grand Prix here.

2:19:16 > 2:19:20- RADIO:- It feels like we are weaving quite a bit.- Yep, copy that, Marcus.

2:19:20 > 2:19:24The radio from his team-mate. I think he had a podium

2:19:24 > 2:19:28on that occasion so that was a pretty good debut, wasn't it?

2:19:28 > 2:19:32It was a good start! There's obviously a keen rivalry

2:19:32 > 2:19:35between those two, Will Stevens and Alexander Rossi,

2:19:35 > 2:19:38and Stevens hasn't driven here whereas Rossi has,

2:19:38 > 2:19:41- but it's a while ago. - And I was talking to Rossi yesterday

2:19:41 > 2:19:45and although it was a while ago and Formula BMW very different,

2:19:45 > 2:19:47he did say he loved the track from his experience here.

2:19:47 > 2:19:50He took two poles and two wins on that occasion

2:19:50 > 2:19:52and he was up against some of the quick Europeans

2:19:52 > 2:19:55that had come over as well so he said he was maybe a bit of the underdog,

2:19:55 > 2:19:57but he had a fantastic weekend.

2:19:57 > 2:19:59Alexander Rossi doing a good job,

2:19:59 > 2:20:02his last Grand Prix for Marussia this year.

2:20:02 > 2:20:06Looking at a replay here of Nasr's lock-up.

2:20:06 > 2:20:09That left front as he went into the first corner.

2:20:09 > 2:20:14Rossi will not race in Abu Dhabi because there is a GP2 race

2:20:14 > 2:20:18and he is looking for victories to add to his tally in that.

2:20:18 > 2:20:21We'll have Roberto Mehri back in the car,

2:20:21 > 2:20:22but he is hopeful of securing a

2:20:22 > 2:20:25drive next season full-time and there have

2:20:25 > 2:20:29been stories linking Tavo Hellmund

2:20:29 > 2:20:31who was involved in the Mexican Grand Prix,

2:20:31 > 2:20:34he's been linked to an investment group in America

2:20:34 > 2:20:37who are talking about buying that team.

2:20:38 > 2:20:41If there were Americans behind that that would be good

2:20:41 > 2:20:42for Alexander Rossi.

2:20:44 > 2:20:46Lee, you are in the pit lane and you can see more

2:20:46 > 2:20:49of the cars in action than at some of the pit lanes here.

2:20:50 > 2:20:52Yes, it is interesting.

2:20:52 > 2:20:55You are standing outside the Marussia garage and basically

2:20:55 > 2:20:59inside Turn 1, which gives a great view to see who is locking up.

2:20:59 > 2:21:01I saw the replay of Massa there.

2:21:01 > 2:21:05We have had the Williams and Toro Rosso locking up.

2:21:05 > 2:21:07It is a great place

2:21:07 > 2:21:09to be able to see the cars on track.

2:21:09 > 2:21:12Not often we can see them on track and be in the pit lane.

2:21:12 > 2:21:14We're normally looking at a monitor as well.

2:21:14 > 2:21:15So it's a fantastic circuit

2:21:15 > 2:21:17where everything's on top of each other.

2:21:21 > 2:21:23Lee, it is striking how much the road

2:21:23 > 2:21:25drops away on the first section.

2:21:25 > 2:21:28It never quite comes across on camera.

2:21:28 > 2:21:32Absolutely, it's one of the tracks you always want to get out and walk

2:21:32 > 2:21:36and see, because it is like a roller-coaster,

2:21:36 > 2:21:38it is a cliche, but Turn 1

2:21:38 > 2:21:39in particular really drops off.

2:21:39 > 2:21:42It's interesting to see how different drivers

2:21:42 > 2:21:43are approaching that.

2:21:43 > 2:21:45We have seen mistakes there before

2:21:45 > 2:21:48and I do not think it will change this weekend.

2:21:48 > 2:21:50There will be mistakes in Free Practice 1

2:21:50 > 2:21:52and we have seen minor mistakes already.

2:21:52 > 2:21:57Hamilton not making any mistakes, going faster again. 1:14:06,

2:21:57 > 2:21:59and he is on a good lap.

2:21:59 > 2:22:02Rosberg staying within three tenths of him but Hamilton is putting

2:22:02 > 2:22:05down a marker about how he intends to go about this weekend

2:22:05 > 2:22:09in trying to claim his first victory on this track.

2:22:09 > 2:22:11Massa, only tenth.

2:22:11 > 2:22:14But Williams never tend to shine on the Friday,

2:22:14 > 2:22:19they tend to put work into the race pace and don't tend to run the car

2:22:19 > 2:22:22perhaps with the same amount of fuel.

2:22:22 > 2:22:24That was a big over steer moment.

2:22:24 > 2:22:26We only caught the end of that when we joined Massa but good

2:22:26 > 2:22:29correction from Felipe Massa.

2:22:29 > 2:22:31This is the replay.

2:22:32 > 2:22:35He had to fight the wheel a couple of times to get the car

2:22:35 > 2:22:37pointing in the right direction.

2:22:37 > 2:22:40Williams are having a strong season, Tony, third in the

2:22:40 > 2:22:43Constructors', where they'll end the championship.

2:22:43 > 2:22:47It means they will have beaten Red Bull and when you look

2:22:47 > 2:22:50at budgets, there is no doubt Williams do not have access to

2:22:50 > 2:22:53the same budget as Red Bull.

2:22:53 > 2:22:55It's been a solid season.

2:22:55 > 2:22:58Perhaps no standout performances.

2:22:58 > 2:23:00They led at the British Grand Prix for a while

2:23:00 > 2:23:02but it has been a solid season.

2:23:02 > 2:23:05They made a quantum leap last year and this

2:23:05 > 2:23:07year has been about consolidation.

2:23:07 > 2:23:09They're comfortably third,

2:23:09 > 2:23:14130 points down on Ferrari but 70 points clear of Red Bull

2:23:14 > 2:23:16and so a strong season.

2:23:16 > 2:23:19They needed that because you are rewarded...

2:23:22 > 2:23:25- RADIO:- I am struggling massively with the overall grip on the car.

2:23:25 > 2:23:28- We saw him sliding, didn't we. - "Struggling with the grip", he said.

2:23:28 > 2:23:32You are rewarded by the number of points scored

2:23:32 > 2:23:36and they have had two seasons when they have been right up there.

2:23:36 > 2:23:40Top three, so... That is what the doctor ordered.

2:23:40 > 2:23:43When you talk about the battle between the teams in

2:23:43 > 2:23:46the Constructors' Championship, one of the closest is between Lotus and

2:23:46 > 2:23:50Toro Rosso, six points between them.

2:23:50 > 2:23:52That's interesting.

2:23:52 > 2:23:55Romain Grosjean was talking about that as being part of his target in

2:23:55 > 2:23:59his last couple of races for Lotus, to help them stay ahead of

2:23:59 > 2:24:02Toro Rosso, and he reckoned it could

2:24:02 > 2:24:04be worth four million, the difference between

2:24:04 > 2:24:08the positions in the Constructors' Championship.

2:24:08 > 2:24:10Between finishing sixth and seventh.

2:24:10 > 2:24:14It would certainly pay the hospitality bills!

2:24:14 > 2:24:15That's right!

2:24:15 > 2:24:17Quite a lot at stake.

2:24:17 > 2:24:20Although the championship is sorted.

2:24:21 > 2:24:24And all those drivers trying to be in the top ten.

2:24:24 > 2:24:26There's a whole bunch of them.

2:24:26 > 2:24:28Max Verstappen's in there at the moment

2:24:28 > 2:24:31Romain Grosjean, Nico Hulkenberg, are only a couple of points behind.

2:24:31 > 2:24:34So, who is going to be in that Top Ten?

2:24:34 > 2:24:38There's been no Toro Rosso driver in the top ten since Sebastian Vettel

2:24:38 > 2:24:41did it in 2008 with that team.

2:24:41 > 2:24:46If Verstappen gets in the top ten, it will be a badge of honour.

2:24:46 > 2:24:49Indeed, and Romain Grosjean said he is determined to get in there

2:24:49 > 2:24:50and he is two points behind.

2:24:50 > 2:24:54They all have their little fights to act on.

2:24:54 > 2:24:57Look at Verstappen's season, it has been really good.

2:24:57 > 2:25:01Nine points scored across the season in his rookie year.

2:25:01 > 2:25:04Very impressive indeed.

2:25:04 > 2:25:08Just watching a replay of Massa - he clouted the kerb

2:25:08 > 2:25:10and that pushed him out wide.

2:25:10 > 2:25:13Put too much of the belly of the car...

2:25:13 > 2:25:17Yeah, really over the kerb too much and getting a bit carried away.

2:25:17 > 2:25:20It looks like Felipe is trying a bit hard?

2:25:20 > 2:25:23He's came into the pits to have that checked out.

2:25:23 > 2:25:25I'm sure they will have a look underneath.

2:25:25 > 2:25:28The thing about that Senna 'S', you have to attack the right-hand

2:25:28 > 2:25:33kerb, there is a flat section but it goes up into a high bump,

2:25:33 > 2:25:37and then it throws you to the outside kerb, but it's got

2:25:37 > 2:25:41a raised section that you can't see when you are looking at it.

2:25:41 > 2:25:46The only time when you feel it in the car is when you have gone

2:25:46 > 2:25:48too far and it really hits the bottom of the chassis.

2:25:48 > 2:25:51The critical thing is to be smooth through there so you can get your

2:25:51 > 2:25:55hybrid boost as early as possible through the long left-hander,

2:25:55 > 2:25:57which maximises your speed into Turn 4,

2:25:57 > 2:25:59which is equally the fastest point

2:25:59 > 2:26:02on the circuit in to Turn 1.

2:26:04 > 2:26:06- TEAM RADIO: - The tyres are shot.

2:26:06 > 2:26:10The pressures have come up very high, Yellow G2 and box this lap.

2:26:10 > 2:26:14Jenson saying the tyres are shot already.

2:26:14 > 2:26:16He's done nine laps on them.

2:26:16 > 2:26:19Certainly, this revised surface that came in last year does seem to put

2:26:19 > 2:26:23a lot more stress through the tyre than the old surface that

2:26:23 > 2:26:24we had here in the past.

2:26:24 > 2:26:28They are about to use up this first set of tyres anyway, they will be

2:26:28 > 2:26:32taking them off the car shortly, the half an hour mark coming up

2:26:32 > 2:26:34in just over three minutes' time.

2:26:34 > 2:26:36The track will go quieter when that happens.

2:26:36 > 2:26:41Let's see what Bottas is doing, he is currently seventh fastest.

2:26:41 > 2:26:44We were talking about Championship battles, we have already mentioned

2:26:44 > 2:26:49he and Raikkonen are separated by three points, which is great fun.

2:26:49 > 2:26:51They have had two incidents, one in Russia and one

2:26:51 > 2:26:53in Mexico last time out.

2:26:53 > 2:26:57It is stirring the passions of the Finnish fans, we gather, who,

2:26:57 > 2:27:00at the moment, are more on Kimi's side than on Bottas',

2:27:00 > 2:27:04that is because Kimi has been so long established in the sport.

2:27:04 > 2:27:07That is hugely unfair when you look at the incidents.

2:27:07 > 2:27:10Kimi came from a mile back in Sochi.

2:27:10 > 2:27:14Valtteri saying, "What was that?"

2:27:14 > 2:27:18Then, last time out in Mexico, he is right there and Kimi turned in.

2:27:18 > 2:27:20I think to get blamed for that, I'm not surprised

2:27:20 > 2:27:23he doesn't read to much of it.

2:27:23 > 2:27:25Best to ignore everything on the Internet!

2:27:27 > 2:27:30Bottas is certainly not dipping his head, he will go

2:27:30 > 2:27:33on to battle throughout the rest of these last two races to try

2:27:33 > 2:27:36and stay ahead of Kimi Raikkonen.

2:27:36 > 2:27:37It will be one to watch, I think.

2:27:37 > 2:27:40Crossing the line goes Sergio Perez, that is an improvement

2:27:40 > 2:27:41for the Mexican.

2:27:41 > 2:27:44He goes fifth fastest in the Force India.

2:27:44 > 2:27:45So a good effort.

2:27:45 > 2:27:48Hulkenberg down in tenth place at the moment.

2:27:48 > 2:27:51Now, a bit of news about Daniel Ricciardo, we are riding

2:27:51 > 2:27:53on board the Red Bull.

2:27:53 > 2:27:57Tony, explain what is going on with the power unit.

2:27:57 > 2:28:01Basically, they have an upgraded Renault engine, the update they were

2:28:01 > 2:28:05going to run a couple of races ago, they have taken the ten-place hit

2:28:05 > 2:28:08here, and talking about it yesterday, he said he doesn't think

2:28:08 > 2:28:11it will be a huge - he thinks it will

2:28:11 > 2:28:15be a tenth or two of an improvement.

2:28:15 > 2:28:19He said he's... Obviously, both Renault and Red Bull,

2:28:19 > 2:28:21want to know what sort

2:28:21 > 2:28:25of a gain that is and they have put that in and he said if it allows him

2:28:25 > 2:28:29to stay in the tow out of Juncao, into the Senna 'S', if it makes the

2:28:29 > 2:28:32difference, allows him to keep it in the tow,

2:28:32 > 2:28:35the race might come back to him. He's going to do that.

2:28:35 > 2:28:41Kvyat has the original motor in the car, but they may take a decision to

2:28:41 > 2:28:44change tomorrow depending on how this session goes for Ricciardo.

2:28:44 > 2:28:47It is quite a good opening gambit from Ricciardo,

2:28:47 > 2:28:50he's gone fourth fastest in a 1:15.2.

2:28:50 > 2:28:52Kvyat's gone well here in the past.

2:28:52 > 2:28:55He did a free practice session a couple of years ago,

2:28:55 > 2:28:57then raced here last year for Toro Rosso.

2:28:57 > 2:28:59He's done a 1:15.7 so far.

2:28:59 > 2:29:04They will have a direct back-to-back comparison, with Kvyat.

2:29:04 > 2:29:09Allan, the point is, Ricciardo, he is running this revised engine,

2:29:09 > 2:29:14but he will have a ten-place penalty. So gains and losses there.

2:29:14 > 2:29:16It is. There is always that balance

2:29:16 > 2:29:19between what you can actually do and overtake.

2:29:19 > 2:29:22Here you can overtake but you need good acceleration out

2:29:22 > 2:29:25of the final corner and the long pull up the hill.

2:29:25 > 2:29:29And that acceleration and top speed has never been

2:29:29 > 2:29:30Red Bull's strong point, even when

2:29:30 > 2:29:33they were winning World Championships,

2:29:33 > 2:29:35so I think it is going to be quite a tough one to achieve.

2:29:35 > 2:29:39They have always been able to run a little less wing.

2:29:39 > 2:29:41If we go back to Spa, remember they

2:29:41 > 2:29:43went down to their lowest downforce setting,

2:29:43 > 2:29:45their Monza wing, in first free practice,

2:29:45 > 2:29:48as their chassis balance was very good.

2:29:48 > 2:29:49So they have been able to get away

2:29:49 > 2:29:52with things that other teams haven't been able to try.

2:29:52 > 2:29:55In reality, they have little to lose.

2:29:55 > 2:29:58They can roll the dice and try something different.

2:29:58 > 2:30:01Do you think Red Bull are still experimenting on the chassis side

2:30:01 > 2:30:03of things as well?

2:30:04 > 2:30:08They are not actually doing very much, they have always got small

2:30:08 > 2:30:12developments, but in terms of anything major,

2:30:12 > 2:30:17I think it's more a case of just actually finalising the details,

2:30:17 > 2:30:20we don't have any big upgrades.

2:30:20 > 2:30:21They are always tweaking.

2:30:21 > 2:30:25If you think about Red Bull, they are always at the aerodynamics and

2:30:25 > 2:30:31changing them up to the final run in Free Practice 3 on Saturday morning.

2:30:31 > 2:30:33Then they optimise it and they seem to get it right

2:30:33 > 2:30:35nine times out of ten.

2:30:35 > 2:30:38As for big developments, that will be 2016.

2:30:38 > 2:30:40It's gone a little quiet.

2:30:40 > 2:30:42We are into that slight pause now where they have been running

2:30:42 > 2:30:47for half an hour, they have to give a set of tyres back to the FIA,

2:30:47 > 2:30:51they get another new set of medium compound tyres to be used.

2:30:51 > 2:30:56And Christian Horner, the team principal, is joining us.

2:30:56 > 2:31:01What are the initial reports back from Daniel Ricciardo and the

2:31:01 > 2:31:04Renault guys on this revised engine?

2:31:05 > 2:31:07So far, OK.

2:31:07 > 2:31:10We have done very little laps and just feeling our way

2:31:10 > 2:31:12into a green circuit.

2:31:12 > 2:31:14So far, OK.

2:31:14 > 2:31:18Are we right in thinking it is just the, as we refer to it, the ice,

2:31:18 > 2:31:21the internal combustion engine that is different, nothing else?

2:31:21 > 2:31:24That's correct.

2:31:24 > 2:31:30We have used 11 tokens on the ice, so that's what is running in

2:31:30 > 2:31:32Daniel Ricciardo's car.

2:31:32 > 2:31:35What about the thoughts in terms of Daniil Kvyat's car?

2:31:35 > 2:31:38Will you go through today and look at the data and then decide?

2:31:38 > 2:31:41Or have you made the decision that he will stick with

2:31:41 > 2:31:43the engine he's got?

2:31:43 > 2:31:47Pretty much made the decision that we will stick with what we've got.

2:31:47 > 2:31:50There is no point strategically putting both

2:31:50 > 2:31:53on grid-place penalties.

2:31:53 > 2:31:56Daniel Ricciardo is running a little less downforce to try and

2:31:56 > 2:32:01assist some of the overtaking that he will have to do during the race.

2:32:01 > 2:32:03But it's a very useful exercise.

2:32:03 > 2:32:07That tells us a bit about engines for this year.

2:32:07 > 2:32:09What is the news on engines for next year?

2:32:09 > 2:32:11Are you going to be around?

2:32:11 > 2:32:13There's been a lot of talk about this.

2:32:15 > 2:32:19Look, all I can tell you, we have entered the World Championship.

2:32:19 > 2:32:22We haven't concluded an agreement with an engine yet,

2:32:22 > 2:32:24or an energy supplier yet.

2:32:24 > 2:32:26We are homing in on something.

2:32:26 > 2:32:31As you can imagine, in Formula One, there are more scenarios that

2:32:31 > 2:32:34have to play out that have to come to a conclusion.

2:32:34 > 2:32:39We're getting close and hopefully, I will be able to tell you something

2:32:39 > 2:32:41in the not too distant future.

2:32:41 > 2:32:44That is good news.

2:32:44 > 2:32:47Coming back to the challenge of this track, you have had a lot

2:32:47 > 2:32:52of success here in the past, with Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.

2:32:52 > 2:32:54Lots of victories and podium finishes.

2:32:54 > 2:32:55What is it about this track?

2:32:55 > 2:32:58What do you need to get out of the car to make it work here?

2:32:58 > 2:33:01You have to have a good balance here, particularly in the middle

2:33:01 > 2:33:05sector, so you try and trim the downforce as much as you can because

2:33:05 > 2:33:09that pit straight is pretty long and uphill all the way to Turn 1.

2:33:09 > 2:33:14It is about having a nicely balanced car through Turn 4, through the

2:33:14 > 2:33:19middle sector, Turn 9 is important, and the last two corners,

2:33:19 > 2:33:24particularly Turn 12 is really important to get a good exit there.

2:33:24 > 2:33:26Christian, it's Tony. You mentioned there

2:33:26 > 2:33:28that you were going to run less wing

2:33:28 > 2:33:31on Ricciardo's car to allow him to get the overtaking done.

2:33:31 > 2:33:34Looking back at Mexico, when you were ballistic

2:33:34 > 2:33:37in Sectors 2 and 3, but lost that on the main straight, are you

2:33:37 > 2:33:41confident that that will be able to happen and that he is going to get

2:33:41 > 2:33:43that overtaking done in the race?

2:33:43 > 2:33:45I think all we can do is try and help.

2:33:45 > 2:33:48We were running a lot less downforce than others in Mexico.

2:33:48 > 2:33:53We were still very quick in Sectors 2 and 3.

2:33:53 > 2:33:55This circuit is quite power-sensitive.

2:33:55 > 2:33:58You can see that run out of Turn 12 all the way through

2:33:58 > 2:34:01the last corner up to Turn 1.

2:34:01 > 2:34:02But you get a good tow here.

2:34:02 > 2:34:05So, if you can get into the slipstream with the DRS

2:34:05 > 2:34:07then you can have a go on the brakes into Turn 1.

2:34:07 > 2:34:09Thanks.

2:34:09 > 2:34:10Final question.

2:34:10 > 2:34:12We saw some images of Max Verstappen,

2:34:12 > 2:34:15who has been doing a blinding job for Toro Rosso this year.

2:34:15 > 2:34:17We have been talking about him so much.

2:34:17 > 2:34:19He is part of the Red Bull family.

2:34:19 > 2:34:21Some other team also have their eyes on him.

2:34:21 > 2:34:25You're happy that you have got him fixed under contract

2:34:25 > 2:34:26for the next couple of years?

2:34:26 > 2:34:29Absolutely. He is a product of the Red Bull Junior Team.

2:34:29 > 2:34:33All credit to Red Bull for giving him the opportunity.

2:34:33 > 2:34:34There was a lot of criticism when he came in.

2:34:34 > 2:34:38People said he was too young or it was too early.

2:34:38 > 2:34:43He's demonstrated that he's got a sublime amount of ability

2:34:43 > 2:34:45and he is still very raw.

2:34:45 > 2:34:48The pace that he has is fascinating to see him develop.

2:34:48 > 2:34:53There's a few rough edges, but I'm sure they will be polished

2:34:53 > 2:34:56off in the coming 12 months.

2:34:57 > 2:34:59Great. Thank you very much, Christian.

2:34:59 > 2:35:01Hopefully, we will have more from the pit wall

2:35:01 > 2:35:03as we go through the weekend.

2:35:04 > 2:35:08Let's get back down to the pits while it is reasonably quiet

2:35:08 > 2:35:10and join Allan.

2:35:11 > 2:35:15Ferrari have been changing front wings back and forward between

2:35:15 > 2:35:20the two cars, and they have been doing this for a few races now.

2:35:20 > 2:35:25They brought it out in Suzuka and it is a development that they had.

2:35:25 > 2:35:27We see it going on to Kimi Raikkonen's car,

2:35:27 > 2:35:30there are three main sections that are different on it.

2:35:30 > 2:35:35On the top section, you have got, as the top area comes down, it is

2:35:35 > 2:35:42sealed at the inner area, then if you go to the main plane itself, if

2:35:42 > 2:35:47we can come round here, this area on the other wing is open all the way

2:35:47 > 2:35:51here which allows more airflow underneath and the final point is

2:35:51 > 2:35:56where the actual main plane comes down at the bottom, this is much

2:35:56 > 2:36:01more curved which disturbs the air which means when it comes to the

2:36:01 > 2:36:05tyre that sits here, it's got a nicer airflow all the way around.

2:36:05 > 2:36:07All the time you're playing the balance

2:36:07 > 2:36:10between the pitch sensitivity and the downforce level.

2:36:10 > 2:36:13Ferrari have been doing that quite a lot through the last couple

2:36:13 > 2:36:16of Grand Prix, deciding which nose is right for the circuit.

2:36:16 > 2:36:20Because Kimi Raikkonen is still in that battle for fourth place.

2:36:20 > 2:36:23For Sebastian Vettel, he has a hope of second, but it will be tough.

2:36:25 > 2:36:27Thank you. Good to see Ferrari still working hard

2:36:27 > 2:36:29on trying to bring improvements.

2:36:29 > 2:36:32Sebastian Vettel, after that disappointing time in Mexico,

2:36:32 > 2:36:35it was the first time he had crashed out of a Grand Prix since 2010.

2:36:35 > 2:36:39A massively long time, but he didn't cover himself in glory, did he?

2:36:39 > 2:36:42No he didn't, but he was very honest about it.

2:36:42 > 2:36:45He came on the radio and said, "Sorry guys, it was..."

2:36:45 > 2:36:49I can't remember the word that he said, but it amounted to rubbish!

2:36:49 > 2:36:54After the race, a journalist who couldn't believe what he'd seen,

2:36:54 > 2:36:56he said, "Did something funny happen,

2:36:56 > 2:36:59"cos I couldn't quite believe that?"

2:36:59 > 2:37:02Sebastian just laughed and said, "Neither could I!"

2:37:02 > 2:37:05He is so honest.

2:37:05 > 2:37:07He has a great relationship with that team.

2:37:07 > 2:37:10When you have 12 podiums out of him,

2:37:10 > 2:37:13they can forgive him a race like that.

2:37:13 > 2:37:17And three victories of course during the year, which, although they put

2:37:17 > 2:37:20that out there as a dream at the beginning of the year, they didn't

2:37:20 > 2:37:24expect to get three victories.

2:37:24 > 2:37:26We have been talking about how this is a special track

2:37:26 > 2:37:30at Interlagos, why not hear from a man who has taken victory

2:37:30 > 2:37:35here, who won his world title here about Interlagos, Jenson Button

2:37:35 > 2:37:38talking to Tom yesterday.

2:37:38 > 2:37:40It is difficult to say a favourite corner.

2:37:40 > 2:37:42It's a great circuit, the atmosphere helps

2:37:42 > 2:37:44if there wasn't any stadiums or people

2:37:44 > 2:37:47it wouldn't have the same atmosphere, so...

2:37:47 > 2:37:49It is a very special circuit.

2:37:49 > 2:37:52Turn 1 is the most difficult corner on circuit.

2:37:52 > 2:37:55It is blind, the cambers are all a bit iffy,

2:37:55 > 2:37:57so it is easy to lock a front.

2:37:57 > 2:37:59You arrive at a corner locked up, or you arrive,

2:37:59 > 2:38:01"I could have braked later."

2:38:01 > 2:38:04So that's probably the trickiest corner.

2:38:04 > 2:38:07The best corner is the double right-hander,

2:38:07 > 2:38:11the fast one, Turn 6, 7?

2:38:11 > 2:38:14That is good fun. I've actually gone around the outside of someone there.

2:38:14 > 2:38:17Which is a brave move, but a fun move

2:38:17 > 2:38:19I enjoy driving here.

2:38:19 > 2:38:22Last year was tricky. The asphalt was different.

2:38:22 > 2:38:24Smoother, which is a good thing.

2:38:24 > 2:38:26So, look forward to this year.

2:38:26 > 2:38:31That corner, Turns 6 and 7, Ferradura, as it is known,

2:38:31 > 2:38:36delighted to have pulled off some good manoeuvres there in the past.

2:38:36 > 2:38:39Jenson Button, one of the most experienced Formula One

2:38:39 > 2:38:43drivers of all time now, with that one world title to his name, and

2:38:43 > 2:38:46a full season coming up next year.

2:38:46 > 2:38:50Felipe Massa also has great feelings about this Grand Prix,

2:38:50 > 2:38:52just seen Kimi Raikkonen go out.

2:38:52 > 2:38:54Let's hear what Massa feels about going

2:38:54 > 2:38:56into his home event this weekend.

2:38:57 > 2:38:59It is an amazing race.

2:38:59 > 2:39:03It is like a dream for Brazilian to race here.

2:39:03 > 2:39:05I remember when I was in the grandstand standing up,

2:39:05 > 2:39:10every lap a Brazilian was passing through, now I'm here racing,

2:39:11 > 2:39:14with two victories in the pocket.

2:39:14 > 2:39:17Maybe I should have managed to finish more on the podium

2:39:17 > 2:39:19in my career.

2:39:19 > 2:39:24Brazilian with more victories, with more podiums here,

2:39:24 > 2:39:29the same victories as other champs, which I hope I can have a third one,

2:39:29 > 2:39:32it is like a dream for me.

2:39:32 > 2:39:34I will try everything I can to use all this energy,

2:39:34 > 2:39:36use this amazing track,

2:39:36 > 2:39:42amazing feeling that it can help me and in one of the most

2:39:42 > 2:39:46incredible track and race for me.

2:39:48 > 2:39:51He's now done 122 Grand Prix since that last victory

2:39:51 > 2:39:55so it has been a long time.

2:39:55 > 2:39:57Wouldn't it be something if he could?

2:39:57 > 2:40:01We can hear from team-mate Valtteri Bottas, with Lee.

2:40:02 > 2:40:06What has it been like on track?

2:40:06 > 2:40:10It feels like less grip than last year, because last year with the

2:40:10 > 2:40:15new tarmac it was gripping so we struggled a bit in the first one.

2:40:15 > 2:40:18It was the first one. Just checking everything works.

2:40:18 > 2:40:22Now we are tuning the setup and trying to get a bit more out

2:40:22 > 2:40:23of the tyres.

2:40:23 > 2:40:26You are in a big battle in the Drivers' Championship

2:40:26 > 2:40:30alongside Kimi Raikkonen, where do you think Williams will be this

2:40:30 > 2:40:32weekend in comparison to Ferrari?

2:40:32 > 2:40:34Recently Ferrari have edged again.

2:40:34 > 2:40:37I think it will be tight again.

2:40:37 > 2:40:40They are strong here but no doubt we will be, as well, and

2:40:40 > 2:40:46if we get everything right today and tomorrow, I think it will be close.

2:40:48 > 2:40:52Hopeful it will be another nice battle on the track on Sunday.

2:40:52 > 2:40:55There are a lot battles you have been having on track.

2:40:55 > 2:41:00You two can't seem to keep away from each other, was anything said

2:41:00 > 2:41:02after the last incident?

2:41:02 > 2:41:05No, I do not think there is any need.

2:41:05 > 2:41:06Everything is fine.

2:41:06 > 2:41:10Well, the good news is there's a Finnish Driver's Steward as well

2:41:10 > 2:41:13so if you need one you all speak the same language.

2:41:13 > 2:41:15What's your plan?

2:41:15 > 2:41:18What are you going to run through this morning?

2:41:18 > 2:41:20Mainly focusing on the tyres.

2:41:20 > 2:41:22That will be the key.

2:41:22 > 2:41:24We have the medium and soft compound

2:41:24 > 2:41:26and they both behave really different.

2:41:26 > 2:41:29We have the compound and to get the most out of those will be the

2:41:29 > 2:41:33key, that will be the target today.

2:41:33 > 2:41:35Thanks for talking to us. Goodbye.

2:41:35 > 2:41:39Valtteri Bottas about to get back into the car.

2:41:39 > 2:41:42Looking at the times so far, Tony, Hamilton and Rosberg at the top,

2:41:42 > 2:41:45but interesting to see the two Ferraris next best with Vettel

2:41:45 > 2:41:48closely matched by Raikkonen after those initial runs.

2:41:48 > 2:41:51Then Ricardo, but as ever

2:41:51 > 2:41:55Valtteri Bottas and Massa further down the list

2:41:55 > 2:41:58but, as I mentioned, they do tend to run the cars

2:41:58 > 2:42:00with more fuel on Friday.

2:42:00 > 2:42:03When it comes to qualifying, I'm sure they'll be much higher up.

2:42:03 > 2:42:06And they impressed me last year.

2:42:06 > 2:42:09Valtteri obviously hoping he can keep that battle with Kimi going.

2:42:09 > 2:42:11Because, I mean, when you look at it,

2:42:11 > 2:42:13Vettel has scored more than twice Raikkonen's points.

2:42:13 > 2:42:15He's got 251.

2:42:15 > 2:42:17Raikkonen's on, you know, 123.

2:42:17 > 2:42:20Valtteri three ahead of him in a car which, quite honestly,

2:42:20 > 2:42:22isn't as quick as the Ferrari.

2:42:22 > 2:42:24So he's done a great job.

2:42:24 > 2:42:26I mean, I'm sure he'd love to put one over on Kimi

2:42:26 > 2:42:28and finish ahead of him.

2:42:28 > 2:42:31He was asked yesterday if Kimi Raikkonen would be a bit embarrassed

2:42:31 > 2:42:32if he finished behind and he smiled and said,

2:42:32 > 2:42:34"I don't know, you'll have to ask him!"

2:42:34 > 2:42:36But he's intent on making it happen.

2:42:36 > 2:42:38Kimi Raikkonen has gone quicker,

2:42:38 > 2:42:39a slight lock up on that lap,

2:42:39 > 2:42:41but he's gone third fastest now

2:42:41 > 2:42:43to go quicker than Vettel's time from earlier on.

2:42:43 > 2:42:47But it's still half a second of what Mercedes are capable of doing.

2:42:47 > 2:42:49Max Verstappen heading out.

2:42:49 > 2:42:52That is the area where they can do their practice start.

2:42:52 > 2:42:54So it's right down on the exit of the pits,

2:42:54 > 2:42:57after they've come down the hill and through the twisty section.

2:42:57 > 2:43:00That's where they can do their practice starts.

2:43:00 > 2:43:01And Verstappen now on circuit.

2:43:01 > 2:43:04And everybody I think has managed a decent number of laps so far.

2:43:04 > 2:43:07It doesn't look as though anybody's had any major technical problems.

2:43:07 > 2:43:11And at the bottom of the order, both Will Stevens and Alexander Rossi

2:43:11 > 2:43:12have put in some lap times

2:43:12 > 2:43:15and they're on the same tenth of a second, so it's very close

2:43:15 > 2:43:19between Stevens and Rossi in the Manor cars.

2:43:19 > 2:43:22You mentioned earlier that there is talk

2:43:22 > 2:43:26of perhaps a change of ownership at that Manor team.

2:43:26 > 2:43:29Perhaps an American group getting involved and investing in the team.

2:43:29 > 2:43:32But we do know, of course, they have Mercedes engines for next year.

2:43:32 > 2:43:36So there is a great deal of hope they will be a bit more competitive,

2:43:36 > 2:43:38perhaps try to get into the midfield battles.

2:43:38 > 2:43:40We've got the Haas team coming in next year,

2:43:40 > 2:43:43the American team of the Ferrari power.

2:43:43 > 2:43:45And with an awful lot of Ferrari technology, as well.

2:43:45 > 2:43:47The team Romain Grosjean will be going to

2:43:47 > 2:43:50and, as we know now, being joined by Gutierrez.

2:43:50 > 2:43:52So lots of little things to be looking forward to next year.

2:43:52 > 2:43:54Yeah, that's interesting.

2:43:54 > 2:43:57The Haas team coming in with all that Ferrari technology

2:43:57 > 2:43:59and importantly a budget.

2:44:00 > 2:44:02And that has, you know...

2:44:02 > 2:44:03It might not be a medium,

2:44:03 > 2:44:05but that's got to be a thing that's going to be competing

2:44:05 > 2:44:08at around top five, top six level.

2:44:08 > 2:44:10Let's just ride on board with Verstappen.

2:44:10 > 2:44:12He's going to take us around the lap.

2:44:12 > 2:44:14He's coming along the back stretch now,

2:44:14 > 2:44:16which is a DRS zone, as well.

2:44:16 > 2:44:18Into Turn 4.

2:44:18 > 2:44:20A tricky left-hander.

2:44:20 > 2:44:23It drops downhill again here before it just bottoms out.

2:44:23 > 2:44:25Now they begin t start the climb back up the hill.

2:44:25 > 2:44:27This is the corner Button was talking about,

2:44:27 > 2:44:29Turns 6 and 7,

2:44:29 > 2:44:30fast approach.

2:44:30 > 2:44:32It kind of tightens up

2:44:32 > 2:44:33and then into Turn 8,

2:44:33 > 2:44:36where it really gets tight.

2:44:36 > 2:44:40Then Pinheirinho, the left-hander, again drops downhill a little bit.

2:44:40 > 2:44:42He might lose camber.

2:44:42 > 2:44:45That's right. And then climbs the hill up again into Bico de Pato.

2:44:45 > 2:44:47The duckbill, a tight right.

2:44:47 > 2:44:50That's where we often see a little bit of locking up.

2:44:50 > 2:44:51Through Mergulho, the left-hander.

2:44:51 > 2:44:54Now the corner that Christian Horner mentioned is so important,

2:44:54 > 2:44:56this left-hander here, Turn 12...

2:44:57 > 2:44:59Good exit there required,

2:44:59 > 2:45:01because it's now flat out all the way up the hill.

2:45:01 > 2:45:04You can see the gear changes on the graphic on the left there.

2:45:04 > 2:45:07Pops it into eighth gear as he comes over the hill.

2:45:07 > 2:45:09There's the pit-lane entry on the left

2:45:09 > 2:45:12and then across the start/finishing line to complete the lap.

2:45:12 > 2:45:17The speed - 330 kilometres per hour at that section.

2:45:18 > 2:45:20Rosberg fastest on the fastest Speed Trap at the moment

2:45:20 > 2:45:23at 338 kilometres per hour.

2:45:23 > 2:45:26Again, Verstappen never afraid of the car moving around on him

2:45:26 > 2:45:30and he has the fastest middle sector time of anybody.

2:45:30 > 2:45:32Don't forget, he has just gone out on a new set of tyres

2:45:32 > 2:45:36and so it's understandable why he's moved up, but that's a good lap.

2:45:36 > 2:45:39Now 1:14.9 from Verstappen there

2:45:39 > 2:45:40and that was only, what,

2:45:40 > 2:45:43about two-tenths slower than Kimi Raikkonen's lap.

2:45:43 > 2:45:47So a very impressive lap once again from Max Verstappen.

2:45:47 > 2:45:50And he's on a bit of a mission once more, I think, to score more points.

2:45:50 > 2:45:52Interesting when we were watching that lap

2:45:52 > 2:45:54and we saw the last bit of the section,

2:45:54 > 2:45:57that the longer acceleration right at the first corner.

2:45:57 > 2:45:59When we were talking to Christian and he was saying

2:45:59 > 2:46:03the fact you can get a tow there, because it's quite a slow exit,

2:46:03 > 2:46:05you can get in a tow and slingshot pass.

2:46:05 > 2:46:09Now, talking to Alonso earlier in the weekend,

2:46:09 > 2:46:11there may be a problem with the energy recovery system deployment,

2:46:11 > 2:46:14which gives you an extra power boost.

2:46:14 > 2:46:18If you suddenly run out, suddenly lose that power,

2:46:18 > 2:46:20we're thinking, well, what a nightmare for anybody

2:46:20 > 2:46:22tucking into the slipstream of a car

2:46:22 > 2:46:24that suddenly runs out of ERS deployment.

2:46:24 > 2:46:27But Alonso interesting said he doesn't thinks that will happen here

2:46:27 > 2:46:30because it's such a relatively short lap and they should be OK.

2:46:30 > 2:46:34So that's something which was potentially a snake,

2:46:34 > 2:46:37but should be OK and not cause any dramas, we hope.

2:46:37 > 2:46:39Well, that's good news to hear.

2:46:39 > 2:46:41In Japan it almost caused some problems.

2:46:41 > 2:46:44We saw McLarens being overtaken left, right and centre

2:46:44 > 2:46:46on the run down to the first corner.

2:46:46 > 2:46:48Let's see what Perez' lap is.

2:46:48 > 2:46:49He does a 1:15.4.

2:46:49 > 2:46:51So it is an improvement on lap time.

2:46:51 > 2:46:55And he gets to within a second of the fastest time

2:46:55 > 2:46:58that has been set by Lewis Hamilton, so far.

2:46:58 > 2:46:59Still both Mercedes cars are in the pits.

2:46:59 > 2:47:02They haven't decided to come out and play just yet.

2:47:02 > 2:47:05We are halfway through this first practice session

2:47:05 > 2:47:07for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

2:47:07 > 2:47:10We are at Interlagos, a track that has been used for many, many years.

2:47:10 > 2:47:12In fact, it will be

2:47:12 > 2:47:15the 43rd World Championship Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend

2:47:15 > 2:47:18and the 33rd to be held here at St Paulo.

2:47:18 > 2:47:22It was also held in Rio for some years at the Jacarepagua circuit,

2:47:22 > 2:47:27but that is actually being built on now for the Olympics for next year.

2:47:27 > 2:47:30So it won't ever be a race circuit again

2:47:30 > 2:47:34and St Paulo is very much the place for Formula One

2:47:34 > 2:47:37and, indeed, for a lot of top-level national motorsport here in Brazil.

2:47:37 > 2:47:40Yeah, you mentioned at the top of the programme

2:47:40 > 2:47:41the Emerson Fittipaldi effect,

2:47:41 > 2:47:44effectively bringing motor racing to this place.

2:47:44 > 2:47:46And that was 1970.

2:47:46 > 2:47:48But since then, they've had five home winners

2:47:48 > 2:47:51and multiple winners, as well, so they've done incredibly well.

2:47:51 > 2:47:52Massa's won twice. Senna's won twice.

2:47:52 > 2:47:55Nelson Piquet won twice at the other circuit.

2:47:55 > 2:47:58And then, obviously, Emerson himself twice.

2:47:58 > 2:48:01So the passion is like Mexico,

2:48:01 > 2:48:04but they've also got the pedigree to back it up in terms of drivers.

2:48:04 > 2:48:07Yes, in terms of winners. And that is crucial, of course.

2:48:07 > 2:48:09Right now, you would have to say

2:48:09 > 2:48:12Massa is in the best place to try and snatch a victory.

2:48:12 > 2:48:15But it would be against the run of the green

2:48:15 > 2:48:17if Williams were to take a win here

2:48:17 > 2:48:19because of the performance of Mercedes,

2:48:19 > 2:48:23because of Ferrari and, indeed, the danger of Red Bull, as well.

2:48:23 > 2:48:25But, yes, the Brazilians have had

2:48:25 > 2:48:27an awful lot to cheer about over the years.

2:48:27 > 2:48:29Emerson Fittipaldi, the man who started it all.

2:48:29 > 2:48:31He came from Brazil to the UK,

2:48:31 > 2:48:35started his junior racing career after karting in Brazil

2:48:35 > 2:48:38in the UK racing in Formula Ford

2:48:38 > 2:48:39and he really opened the door

2:48:39 > 2:48:41and then came back to Brazil

2:48:41 > 2:48:43and taking those Grand Prix victories here.

2:48:43 > 2:48:46Really igniting the passion for the sport in this part of the world,

2:48:46 > 2:48:48which is wonderful to see.

2:48:48 > 2:48:50Palmer there in the Lotus

2:48:50 > 2:48:52doing his Friday morning session.

2:48:52 > 2:48:54Of course, it means

2:48:54 > 2:48:57that Romain Grosjean has to sit the session out,

2:48:57 > 2:48:59as he has done on very many occasions so far this year.

2:48:59 > 2:49:02But Grosjean is in a great place at the moment.

2:49:02 > 2:49:05He's really looking forward to these last two races with the team

2:49:05 > 2:49:09and he's looking forward to going to the American Haas team.

2:49:09 > 2:49:12Interestingly, of course, the Lotus name...

2:49:12 > 2:49:15It was the original Colin Chapman Lotus

2:49:15 > 2:49:18that Emerson Fittipaldi won that first race here in 1973.

2:49:18 > 2:49:22But as Enstone, I don't think they've had quite so much success,

2:49:22 > 2:49:25even though Alonso wrapped up his championships with that team

2:49:25 > 2:49:26at this very circuit.

2:49:26 > 2:49:28Yeah, when you talk about Emerson,

2:49:28 > 2:49:32what an achievement that was to win his fourth race which, effectively,

2:49:32 > 2:49:35sealed the World Championship that year for Jochen Rindt,

2:49:35 > 2:49:37who'd tragically been killed at Monza

2:49:37 > 2:49:40and he was the sport's first posthumous champion.

2:49:40 > 2:49:41I shouldn't say that.

2:49:41 > 2:49:44Yeah, we won't go into that story right now.

2:49:44 > 2:49:45But, er, yeah.

2:49:45 > 2:49:47Hulkenberg crosses the line.

2:49:47 > 2:49:48He's sixth fastest.

2:49:48 > 2:49:50That's a good lap.

2:49:50 > 2:49:52Just a little bit off what Vettel has done so far.

2:49:52 > 2:49:54So both Force Indias running strongly

2:49:54 > 2:49:56in the top ten at the moment.

2:49:56 > 2:49:58I think they will also be hoping

2:49:58 > 2:50:00that they can get a good couple of finishes

2:50:00 > 2:50:01and if they can challenge Williams,

2:50:01 > 2:50:03that would certainly be one of their targets.

2:50:03 > 2:50:07It's interesting, Tony, when you look at engine use

2:50:07 > 2:50:09throughout the year so far.

2:50:09 > 2:50:12Of course, they are limited to four engines a season

2:50:12 > 2:50:13and when you look at the list,

2:50:13 > 2:50:16basically it's fundamentally just the Mercedes teams

2:50:16 > 2:50:18that have managed to do that.

2:50:18 > 2:50:21They've all managed to get through the season on four engines.

2:50:21 > 2:50:23Even Ferrari. Although Sauber have done it.

2:50:23 > 2:50:25Sauber have managed to get through

2:50:25 > 2:50:27the season so far on their four engines.

2:50:27 > 2:50:29Even Ferrari have had to go for more.

2:50:29 > 2:50:30Vettel is on his fifth.

2:50:30 > 2:50:32Kimi Raikkonen on his sixth.

2:50:32 > 2:50:34You get grid penalties every time you go beyond the four.

2:50:34 > 2:50:36But when you look at what Mercedes have done

2:50:36 > 2:50:39in terms of reliability, it is amazing.

2:50:39 > 2:50:40It is stunning.

2:50:40 > 2:50:42I had to have a bit of a laugh yesterday, actually,

2:50:42 > 2:50:45listening to Rosberg talking about his season

2:50:45 > 2:50:47and he said, "We've had a few reliability issues."

2:50:47 > 2:50:50I thought, "Well, most people would love your reliability issues."

2:50:50 > 2:50:53Because Mercedes, for the last 56 Grand Prix,

2:50:53 > 2:50:55they have been in the points.

2:50:55 > 2:50:57Which is a phenomenal run, third best of all time.

2:50:57 > 2:50:59I think the record's 81 by Ferrari.

2:50:59 > 2:51:02I think McLaren at some stage did 64 but, I mean,

2:51:02 > 2:51:05this is right at the start of a new engine formula,

2:51:05 > 2:51:08so phenomenal reliability, I would say.

2:51:08 > 2:51:09Yeah, incredible.

2:51:09 > 2:51:12Just seeing Rosberg about to head out onto the circuit.

2:51:12 > 2:51:17Looking again at that little blip on the front of the cockpit section.

2:51:17 > 2:51:20The little S-duct that they are running here this weekend

2:51:20 > 2:51:21for the first time.

2:51:21 > 2:51:23So Mercedes might be World Champions

2:51:23 > 2:51:26and they might have taken Lewis Hamilton to the drivers' title,

2:51:26 > 2:51:27but they are not resting

2:51:27 > 2:51:29when it comes to further development with the car.

2:51:29 > 2:51:33And they know there could be more of a challenge from Ferrari next year.

2:51:33 > 2:51:35There's a lot of optimism around

2:51:35 > 2:51:37that Ferrari will take yet another step forwards.

2:51:37 > 2:51:40And Jock Clear, who worked very closely with Lewis Hamilton,

2:51:40 > 2:51:42winning the title last year,

2:51:42 > 2:51:45well, he has been on gardening leave

2:51:45 > 2:51:47pretty much throughout the whole of this year,

2:51:47 > 2:51:50but he is an engineer with a massive amount of experience,

2:51:50 > 2:51:56winning titles with Williams in the '90s with Jacques Villeneuve.

2:51:56 > 2:52:01As I mentioned, very much a part of Hamilton's close crew last year.

2:52:01 > 2:52:03And he is going to Ferrari.

2:52:03 > 2:52:05He will certainly be there for all of next year.

2:52:05 > 2:52:07I am not sure exactly which day he begins,

2:52:07 > 2:52:10whether it's going to be for the test in Abu Dhabi, for example,

2:52:10 > 2:52:11or whether it'll be January 1st.

2:52:11 > 2:52:14But he'll be a very interesting addition to the Ferrari team.

2:52:14 > 2:52:17Yeah, you have to look at the length of his gardening leave

2:52:17 > 2:52:20to know that Mercedes know that will be a help to Ferrari.

2:52:20 > 2:52:23And his garden should be looking fantastic!

2:52:23 > 2:52:25That's right, yes.

2:52:25 > 2:52:27They obviously were not able to negotiate an earlier start time

2:52:27 > 2:52:32because, presumably, Mercedes were very keen he did not get to Ferrari

2:52:32 > 2:52:34any earlier than it had to be.

2:52:34 > 2:52:36So that's going to be an interesting change.

2:52:36 > 2:52:39There will be other personnel changes, of course,

2:52:39 > 2:52:40as we go over the winter,

2:52:40 > 2:52:42but you do not want to break up a winning team.

2:52:42 > 2:52:45And I would imagine that most of the Mercedes crew

2:52:45 > 2:52:47will continue for next year

2:52:47 > 2:52:48and try and just build on this

2:52:48 > 2:52:52and see whether they can make it three rows of titles.

2:52:52 > 2:52:58A little bit of the liquid going on the front of Rosberg's car.

2:52:58 > 2:53:01They'll look at the airflow around that duct section

2:53:01 > 2:53:02when the car is out on circuit.

2:53:02 > 2:53:05Now, I was talking to Toto Wolff at the last race

2:53:05 > 2:53:07about this season and Mercedes

2:53:07 > 2:53:09and he was saying the thing that has really impressed him

2:53:09 > 2:53:11is the culture within the team.

2:53:11 > 2:53:13He said most of those guys that have been there

2:53:13 > 2:53:16have been through a lot of iterations in that team, you know?

2:53:17 > 2:53:19And it had a difficult time.

2:53:19 > 2:53:21And he said they are all survivors

2:53:21 > 2:53:23and they've got this culture now

2:53:23 > 2:53:26where there, you know, there is no blame culture.

2:53:26 > 2:53:28They are not afraid to try things

2:53:28 > 2:53:32because they're not protecting themselves.

2:53:32 > 2:53:35- RADIO:- Massive understeer. Massive understeer.

2:53:36 > 2:53:38And he said that's what's been the most impressive thing,

2:53:38 > 2:53:40the advance that's gone forward,

2:53:40 > 2:53:43they are all singing from the same song sheet.

2:53:43 > 2:53:45And Jock coming into the middle of that,

2:53:45 > 2:53:48you know, with people willing to try things and do things,

2:53:48 > 2:53:50it's just going to make it stronger.

2:53:50 > 2:53:53Well, yes, it will be interesting.

2:53:53 > 2:53:56Sorry, I meant to say was Jock coming out of that,

2:53:56 > 2:54:00the culture of that being there, it has made up for that loss.

2:54:00 > 2:54:03Yeah, and they've got plenty of other people

2:54:03 > 2:54:06ready to sort of step into the shoes. Yes, that's right.

2:54:06 > 2:54:10Just seeing Vettel has gone fastest now on his new set of tyres.

2:54:10 > 2:54:11A 1:14.2.

2:54:11 > 2:54:13But look, Mercedes are back out there.

2:54:13 > 2:54:15We've seen Rosberg just do a lap.

2:54:15 > 2:54:18I think he's just backed off on that last one a little bit,

2:54:18 > 2:54:19but maybe now building up to a lap.

2:54:19 > 2:54:22As Romain Grosjean watches the monitors

2:54:22 > 2:54:25and, of course, gets his chance a little bit later on today

2:54:25 > 2:54:27to see what he can do on board the Lotus.

2:54:27 > 2:54:30But the Ferrari fastest for the moment of Sebastian Vettel.

2:54:30 > 2:54:32That will give them some encouragement.

2:54:32 > 2:54:36Let's see what kind of response we now get from Rosberg, in particular,

2:54:36 > 2:54:39as he heads down through the first sector.

2:54:39 > 2:54:40The first sector point

2:54:40 > 2:54:43is about two thirds of the way down this next straight.

2:54:43 > 2:54:44So you will see the comparison.

2:54:44 > 2:54:4818.4 is the fastest we've seen there and he does 18.5.

2:54:48 > 2:54:51So he's just over one-tenth slower than the fastest.

2:54:51 > 2:54:54But he was the fastest earlier on in the session,

2:54:54 > 2:54:57when he was on his initial set of tyres.

2:54:57 > 2:54:59So now he's into that mid-sector, through Ferradura,

2:54:59 > 2:55:03and as the track climbs and tightens through this section now.

2:55:03 > 2:55:06Uses a bit of kerb.

2:55:06 > 2:55:08Interesting to see how many people use the kerb there

2:55:08 > 2:55:11and how much the car bounces as a result of it.

2:55:11 > 2:55:14Now the even tighter section.

2:55:14 > 2:55:16This is one of the tighter corners on the track

2:55:16 > 2:55:18Let's listen.

2:55:18 > 2:55:20- TEAM RADIO:- The tyres are really dropping off a lot

2:55:20 > 2:55:21after one lap already.

2:55:21 > 2:55:24And after four laps, they stabilised.

2:55:24 > 2:55:26But now you are one second slower.

2:55:26 > 2:55:29Good feedback from Max Verstappen to the Toro Rosso team

2:55:29 > 2:55:31and how these tyres are reacting.

2:55:31 > 2:55:33Allan, I'll come to you in a second

2:55:33 > 2:55:35about the tyres and how they're working here.

2:55:35 > 2:55:39I just want to see Rosberg across the line to see what this lap is.

2:55:39 > 2:55:42To see whether it challenges the lap we have seen from Vettel.

2:55:42 > 2:55:44Indeed it does, he goes quicker.

2:55:44 > 2:55:47Pretty close. But it's a 1:14.0.

2:55:47 > 2:55:49Allan, in Mexico, it was a very different story.

2:55:49 > 2:55:51We had the new surface

2:55:51 > 2:55:53and the tyre was barely being used at all.

2:55:53 > 2:55:57They had to do a number of laps in qualifying to get their best lap.

2:55:57 > 2:56:00Looks like we are on for a very different story here this weekend.

2:56:00 > 2:56:02Yes, it's a slightly different scenario,

2:56:02 > 2:56:03because that was a new circuit.

2:56:03 > 2:56:05And it was very dusty and dirty.

2:56:05 > 2:56:07We saw a tremendous amount of spinners,

2:56:07 > 2:56:09especially at the beginning of the weekend.

2:56:09 > 2:56:12But here, it's not due to that.

2:56:12 > 2:56:15Here, it's due to the fact that they basically

2:56:15 > 2:56:17have got the grip out of it,

2:56:17 > 2:56:19but the performance goes out from the rubber part of it

2:56:19 > 2:56:21the compound, it's overused.

2:56:21 > 2:56:24So, therefore, you've got this degradation

2:56:24 > 2:56:27and that is where the lap time goes, especially in that middle sector.

2:56:27 > 2:56:29Because you go through Turn 4,

2:56:29 > 2:56:31then you come up through the double right-hander 6 and 7,

2:56:31 > 2:56:33and then it's all hairpins and acceleration

2:56:33 > 2:56:36and that puts so much energy into the rear tyres.

2:56:36 > 2:56:39And that's something these Pirelli rears don't like very much,

2:56:39 > 2:56:42is when you put a lot of aggressive torque and energy into it.

2:56:42 > 2:56:47And that finally finishes when you start on to the big, long straight

2:56:47 > 2:56:49up towards Turn 1 again.

2:56:49 > 2:56:50So a lot of energy being created.

2:56:50 > 2:56:53Vettel, a slight improvement on that last lap

2:56:53 > 2:56:56and, he's almost gone as quick as Rosberg, but not quite.

2:56:56 > 2:56:59And Hamilton now is on a lap that should see him

2:56:59 > 2:57:01mix it with the two of them, as well.

2:57:01 > 2:57:04So this could be an improvement for Lewis Hamilton on this next lap.

2:57:04 > 2:57:07Keep an eye on him. He is third fastest at the moment.

2:57:07 > 2:57:09Kimi Raikkonen is currently fourth. Verstappen is fifth.

2:57:09 > 2:57:11Hulkenberg is sixth.

2:57:11 > 2:57:13Danny Ricciardo is seventh.

2:57:13 > 2:57:15Sainz is currently eighth.

2:57:15 > 2:57:18Perez, ninth and Maldonado is in tenth position for the moment.

2:57:18 > 2:57:21Hamilton has backed off a bit, though, on this lap,

2:57:21 > 2:57:24so, obviously, he will build up for another lap on the next one.

2:57:24 > 2:57:27His first sector was good, but then he backed off.

2:57:27 > 2:57:30It may well have been that he caught the traffic, of course, there

2:57:30 > 2:57:32of Palmer in the Lotus.

2:57:32 > 2:57:34So Hamilton now heads across the line

2:57:34 > 2:57:37and this should be a more representative lap from him.

2:57:37 > 2:57:39That was a slower lap.

2:57:39 > 2:57:40A little lock up on that left front.

2:57:40 > 2:57:42Oh! And he goes way wide.

2:57:42 > 2:57:44So it won't be this lap

2:57:44 > 2:57:45and that's a classic mistake.

2:57:45 > 2:57:49A little bit like Jenson Button was telling us earlier in the programme.

2:57:49 > 2:57:50Absolutely.

2:57:50 > 2:57:53If you come in there and you think, "I've got to brake a bit later."

2:57:53 > 2:57:55And it reminds me of the first race

2:57:55 > 2:57:58Montoya did here when he arrived in 2001

2:57:58 > 2:58:00and pulled that overtaking manoeuvre on Michael Schumacher,

2:58:00 > 2:58:01which surprised Michael.

2:58:01 > 2:58:04He was turning in and suddenly he was right there,

2:58:04 > 2:58:05you know, the last of the late brakers.

2:58:05 > 2:58:07Forced him wide on the exit.

2:58:07 > 2:58:08And that laid down a marker.

2:58:08 > 2:58:10So that's exactly what Jenson was talking about.

2:58:10 > 2:58:12That was an interesting race for Montoya.

2:58:12 > 2:58:15Of course, he ended up not winning that race, tangling with Verstappen.

2:58:15 > 2:58:17Who went into the back of him, yeah.

2:58:17 > 2:58:19Jos has had a bit of a traumatic time here.

2:58:19 > 2:58:22He was involved in that shunt in '94 with Eric Bernard

2:58:22 > 2:58:25and, you know, got Eddie Irvine's race ban, as well.

2:58:25 > 2:58:28You remember that? A spectacular incident on the back straight.

2:58:28 > 2:58:31That was Jos Verstappen's debut in Formula One.

2:58:31 > 2:58:34I think Max Verstappen is very aware of the family history here

2:58:34 > 2:58:37and he is hoping that things will be slightly smoother

2:58:37 > 2:58:38from his point of view.

2:58:38 > 2:58:41There is Max bringing the car back into the pit-lane.

2:58:41 > 2:58:43If he makes a mistake this weekend, dad can't say too much, can he?

2:58:43 > 2:58:46That's right, he can't complain. No, that's absolutely right.

2:58:46 > 2:58:49So, Rosberg fastest at the moment.

2:58:49 > 2:58:51Vettel has just come back out of the pits.

2:58:51 > 2:58:55We said Hamilton might improve, but he's not going quickly on this lap.

2:58:55 > 2:58:57So after that mistake down on the first corner,

2:58:57 > 2:59:00he's obviously backed right off.

2:59:00 > 2:59:03So whether he will stay out or whether he has damaged those tyres,

2:59:03 > 2:59:04we'll wait to find out in a moment.

2:59:04 > 2:59:06Raikkonen is fourth.

2:59:06 > 2:59:08And then Verstappen is fifth.

2:59:08 > 2:59:10Hulkenberg sixth and then Ricciardo.

2:59:10 > 2:59:14And Hamilton, I think, has just gone past you, hasn't he, Allan?

2:59:15 > 2:59:17I'm now down at the first corner.

2:59:17 > 2:59:19Very, very early on to the throttle.

2:59:19 > 2:59:22He turned into the apex of the left-hander,

2:59:22 > 2:59:25but then the acceleration between Turns 1 and 2

2:59:25 > 2:59:28into the right of the Senna S was pretty impressive.

2:59:28 > 2:59:30He is much earlier on the throttle than anyone else

2:59:30 > 2:59:33that has gone through since him.

2:59:33 > 2:59:34That is interesting.

2:59:34 > 2:59:37We're just watching Rosberg about to come across the line.

2:59:37 > 2:59:39Let's just see what the lap time is for him.

2:59:39 > 2:59:40It's a 1:14.2.

2:59:40 > 2:59:44Not his best. He's done a 1:14.0 already.

2:59:44 > 2:59:46But still very, very competitive with that.

2:59:46 > 2:59:50Interestingly, not quite as quick as he was last year in FP1.

2:59:50 > 2:59:55We saw them in the 12s last year, 1:12.7.

2:59:55 > 2:59:57in FP1 last year.

2:59:57 > 3:00:00So not quite down to that pace at this stage.

3:00:00 > 3:00:03We still have a bit of time, we've got half an hour left

3:00:03 > 3:00:06in this first practice session for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

3:00:06 > 3:00:08And Mercedes up there.

3:00:08 > 3:00:10But certainly looks as though Ferrari could be

3:00:10 > 3:00:11a little closer than at some circuits.

3:00:11 > 3:00:13Hamilton is on a quick lap this time.

3:00:13 > 3:00:16He's got first and second sectors that are faster

3:00:16 > 3:00:17than anybody else so far.

3:00:17 > 3:00:19This is going to be a new fastest time, I think.

3:00:19 > 3:00:23Let's just see what it is... 1:13.5.

3:00:23 > 3:00:26Big chunk of time taken off what Rosberg had previously done.

3:00:26 > 3:00:29Half a second faster and, as you can see,

3:00:29 > 3:00:32he's gone fastest in every single sector.

3:00:32 > 3:00:35That is the sort of performance he wants to put together this weekend.

3:00:35 > 3:00:37Indeed.

3:00:37 > 3:00:39It's a performance he will have to put together,

3:00:39 > 3:00:43because you don't beat Lewis, even a slightly below par Lewis,

3:00:43 > 3:00:44without doing that.

3:00:45 > 3:00:48Daniel Ricciardo just warming the tyres up a little bit.

3:00:48 > 3:00:52Just to remind you, he's running this revised Renault engine.

3:00:52 > 3:00:56It was interesting that Christian Horner told us

3:00:56 > 3:00:58that they are running less downforce on the car, as well,

3:00:58 > 3:01:01because he will have to do more overtaking in the race

3:01:01 > 3:01:04as a result of getting a ten-place penalty.

3:01:04 > 3:01:06So it makes it difficult for us to know

3:01:06 > 3:01:09the difference between him and Kvyat in that case

3:01:09 > 3:01:11because some of it might be downforce level

3:01:11 > 3:01:12- and some of it will be engine. - Indeed.

3:01:12 > 3:01:15They are able to do that because the chassis is so good

3:01:15 > 3:01:19in the twisting sections that it's not going to be too handicapped

3:01:19 > 3:01:20by actually doing that.

3:01:20 > 3:01:22But it's quite interesting between the two of them.

3:01:22 > 3:01:25Because they've got their own little battle going on, as well.

3:01:25 > 3:01:27At the moment, Kvyat still has four more points

3:01:27 > 3:01:31in the Championship than Ricciardo. It's 88 to 84.

3:01:31 > 3:01:33And, you know, they both have had five DNFs.

3:01:33 > 3:01:35And, in terms of bragging rights,

3:01:35 > 3:01:38you want to be there at the end of the season. They both admit that.

3:01:38 > 3:01:40Yeah, that's right.

3:01:40 > 3:01:43Looking at the Speed Trap figures, Hamilton tops the Speed Trap

3:01:43 > 3:01:45from Perez and Rosberg.

3:01:45 > 3:01:48You're not seeing Ricciardo on there until you get down to 14th.

3:01:48 > 3:01:50So, again, it's not a big difference.

3:01:50 > 3:01:54In fact, Kvyat and Sainz, of course, both Renault-powered,

3:01:54 > 3:01:57are actually ahead of him in the Speed Trap figures at the moment.

3:01:57 > 3:02:01It is always difficult to read a huge amount into those figures,

3:02:01 > 3:02:04but it just gives us the odd clue.

3:02:04 > 3:02:08Allan, did you see Ricciardo go through that first section just now?

3:02:10 > 3:02:13Just outbraking himself by about 20 metres

3:02:13 > 3:02:15and ran straight off the circuit here, Ben.

3:02:15 > 3:02:17Used the run-off area

3:02:17 > 3:02:20on the outside of Turn 1 and then joined again at Turn 2.

3:02:20 > 3:02:23He was so, so late on the brakes, locked up that inside wheel.

3:02:23 > 3:02:27And the inside wheel, because the camber of the road floats down

3:02:27 > 3:02:30into the apex of the left-hander, it's quite unloaded,

3:02:30 > 3:02:32so it is quite easy to lock up.

3:02:32 > 3:02:35But you brake very late into there, anyway. About 60, 70 metres.

3:02:35 > 3:02:38And he just happened to brake that little bit too late.

3:02:38 > 3:02:40Allan, who was that you mentioned?

3:02:40 > 3:02:42Sorry, we missed the very start of that.

3:02:42 > 3:02:44So who was that that did that?

3:02:44 > 3:02:46The fastest man on the circuit at the moment - Lewis Hamilton.

3:02:46 > 3:02:49He did a quick lap. Then he did a slow lap, cooled the tyres down,

3:02:49 > 3:02:51take a little bit of temperature out of them,

3:02:51 > 3:02:52but energy back into them

3:02:52 > 3:02:55and then he was starting his next one again.

3:02:55 > 3:02:56Yeah, we did see that.

3:02:56 > 3:02:59And they are showing a replay now of... Was it that one?

3:02:59 > 3:03:00Yes, it was.

3:03:00 > 3:03:02Where he went too deep.

3:03:02 > 3:03:04He was very wide, I can tell you.

3:03:04 > 3:03:05But it was instantaneous.

3:03:05 > 3:03:08As soon as he hit the brakes, he locked up the left front

3:03:08 > 3:03:11and, at that moment in time, he was already too late.

3:03:11 > 3:03:14Because he was doing 210mph, that is about 93 metres a second.

3:03:14 > 3:03:17And so a tenth, you know, just a tenth of a second

3:03:17 > 3:03:19and you have done basically ten metres

3:03:19 > 3:03:20and that's exactly what happened.

3:03:20 > 3:03:23He came through the corner and he's spotted the apex this time.

3:03:23 > 3:03:24Much more gentle on the brakes.

3:03:24 > 3:03:27We've just seen Carlos Sainz locking up coming into the pit-lane entry.

3:03:27 > 3:03:29He's really attacking the pit-lane entry.

3:03:29 > 3:03:31Let's just listen to Rosberg's radio...

3:03:31 > 3:03:33- TEAM RADIO:- A lot of understeer at the moment.

3:03:33 > 3:03:36Do you think there's time to come in for a tyre change?

3:03:36 > 3:03:39Affirm. If you want to do it, we'll do one.

3:03:39 > 3:03:42So, Allan, presumably, a bit of change on the front wing?

3:03:42 > 3:03:45Yes, yes. I think they're going to need that.

3:03:45 > 3:03:46Because, at the moment,

3:03:46 > 3:03:49you said about locking up coming into the pit-pane,

3:03:49 > 3:03:50the pit-lane is massively dusty

3:03:50 > 3:03:53and I think with all of the works that have been going on

3:03:53 > 3:03:55in the paddock for the new buildings,

3:03:55 > 3:03:58there's generally a lot of dust still on the circuit, as well.

3:03:58 > 3:04:00And that pushes you into an understeer,

3:04:00 > 3:04:03especially in that middle sector of the track

3:04:03 > 3:04:05and you need to get a good front end grip there

3:04:05 > 3:04:07to rotate the car, to pivot it round

3:04:07 > 3:04:09to get then back on to the throttle.

3:04:09 > 3:04:12Great. Keep an eye out on what's going on at Turn 1.

3:04:12 > 3:04:15Let us know if there are any more dramas.

3:04:15 > 3:04:18Right now, Hamilton is fastest in this session by over half a second.

3:04:18 > 3:04:19A great lap from him.

3:04:19 > 3:04:21Rosberg making a slight adjustment to the front wing.

3:04:21 > 3:04:25We saw the guys go in and just make a little change

3:04:25 > 3:04:28to the front flap angle, so he is hoping for a little less understeer.

3:04:28 > 3:04:30Let's listen to Jenson Button...

3:04:30 > 3:04:33- TEAM RADIO:- The rear grip is much better this run, thanks for that.

3:04:33 > 3:04:36I think the circuit's moved up a lot.

3:04:37 > 3:04:40And that is where experience counts, of course.

3:04:40 > 3:04:41Button able to recognise that

3:04:41 > 3:04:44the grip is coming from the track itself in many ways.

3:04:44 > 3:04:47As a little bit of rubber gets laid down,

3:04:47 > 3:04:49it changes the characteristics of the circuit

3:04:49 > 3:04:52and the car suddenly starting to feel a bit better

3:04:52 > 3:04:54without perhaps making any major changes

3:04:54 > 3:04:57in terms of actual suspension set-up or aerodynamic set-up.

3:04:57 > 3:05:00This looks like a better lap from Ricciardo.

3:05:00 > 3:05:02He's set personal bests in Sectors 1 and 2.

3:05:02 > 3:05:05Just coming across the line now. And..

3:05:05 > 3:05:07Yeah, that takes him up to fifth.

3:05:07 > 3:05:10- Very close with Raikkonen, too, isn't it?- Yeah.

3:05:10 > 3:05:13He's on a 14.6 now and looking... Where's Daniil Kvyat?

3:05:13 > 3:05:15He's right behind him on 14.69.

3:05:15 > 3:05:18At the moment, just nine hundredths of a second

3:05:18 > 3:05:21between the Red Bulls, with Ricciardo slightly quicker.

3:05:21 > 3:05:24Yeah, not much to choose between them.

3:05:24 > 3:05:26Kvyat sixth, Verstappen still seventh,

3:05:26 > 3:05:29Hulkenberg eighth, then Maldonado ninth,

3:05:29 > 3:05:31which is encouraging for Lotus, I would say.

3:05:31 > 3:05:34Tenth place for Sainz, Palmer just outside the top ten,

3:05:34 > 3:05:38ahead of Button and Perez, Alonso, who's down in 14th place.

3:05:38 > 3:05:40Ericsson in the Sauber's down in 15th place.

3:05:40 > 3:05:43Bottas only 16th. And Massa 18th.

3:05:43 > 3:05:45So, we always note that Williams

3:05:45 > 3:05:48don't necessarily show us what they can do,

3:05:48 > 3:05:50but that's a bit of a surprise.

3:05:50 > 3:05:52And Massa has only done eight laps.

3:05:52 > 3:05:55I'm beginning to wonder whether Felipe Massa's a bit of a problem,

3:05:55 > 3:05:58or whether they're having to do something a bit more major

3:05:58 > 3:06:01on Massa's car than would normally be expected.

3:06:01 > 3:06:03Bottas has done 12 laps.

3:06:03 > 3:06:05It may just be that they're limiting their mileage

3:06:05 > 3:06:08and they'll come out at the end of the session

3:06:08 > 3:06:10to put in a sequence of laps.

3:06:10 > 3:06:13A different run plan from Williams.

3:06:13 > 3:06:15Whether that's due to a problem or part of the plan,

3:06:15 > 3:06:17we'll have to find out.

3:06:17 > 3:06:18At the bottom of the table,

3:06:18 > 3:06:20Rossi now just a little quicker than Stevens,

3:06:20 > 3:06:24but really very little to choose between them.

3:06:24 > 3:06:27Lewis Hamilton there just coming back into the pits.

3:06:27 > 3:06:30Fastest, of course, in this session so far.

3:06:30 > 3:06:33We know how much this weekend means to him.

3:06:33 > 3:06:38Let's find out what he had to say yesterday when we caught up with him

3:06:38 > 3:06:41and asked him what's special here about Interlagos.

3:06:42 > 3:06:44The track's really cool.

3:06:44 > 3:06:46It was one of the first anticlockwise circuits.

3:06:46 > 3:06:49Then I think just the undulations, lots of ups and downs.

3:06:49 > 3:06:51The history and, for sure, the fans here.

3:06:51 > 3:06:55The Brazilians are just crazy about Formula One, as you know.

3:06:55 > 3:06:57And they really create that atmosphere.

3:06:57 > 3:06:58You were late arriving, Lewis.

3:06:58 > 3:07:01Are you well? Are you OK? You're ready to go?

3:07:01 > 3:07:03I'm always ready to go. I was born ready.

3:07:03 > 3:07:06But it's been a difficult week, but I feel good.

3:07:06 > 3:07:09That was Lewis Hamilton speaking to Tom Clarkson yesterday

3:07:09 > 3:07:11after his difficult week.

3:07:11 > 3:07:14He crashed his supercar in Monaco earlier on this week.

3:07:14 > 3:07:16He's also been fighting off a fever.

3:07:16 > 3:07:19He didn't look at his glowing best yesterday.

3:07:19 > 3:07:22But, hopefully, he's had a decent night's sleep.

3:07:22 > 3:07:24It doesn't seem to be slowing him down. Let's listen in.

3:07:24 > 3:07:26'This clutch feels weird.

3:07:26 > 3:07:30'When I leave the garage, just start to feed it in,

3:07:30 > 3:07:32'it's got this weird vibration.

3:07:32 > 3:07:36'The same just happened just now. It's not good, really.'

3:07:36 > 3:07:39Hand-operated clutch on the Formula One cars.

3:07:39 > 3:07:43But the drivers very sensitive to any change in feel.

3:07:43 > 3:07:45And that's something that Lewis

3:07:45 > 3:07:47isn't quite happy about at the moment.

3:07:47 > 3:07:50I'm sure there'll be a bit of research done on that.

3:07:50 > 3:07:54Tony, looking ahead, not just into next year, but into the future,

3:07:54 > 3:07:58there's a quite lot going on in the politics of Formula One.

3:07:58 > 3:08:01One of the things that popped up just before the last race

3:08:01 > 3:08:06was the idea that an engine would be brought into Formula One...

3:08:06 > 3:08:08Let's just listen to Kvyat.

3:08:09 > 3:08:11'..extremely poor...'

3:08:11 > 3:08:14Couldn't quite catch what Kvyat was complaining about there.

3:08:14 > 3:08:17Something's extremely poor. I think he might have said "grip".

3:08:17 > 3:08:20Right, OK. Allan, did you manage to get any more of that?

3:08:20 > 3:08:23- Yes, he said drivability is extremely poor.- Ah.

3:08:23 > 3:08:27He's just come through behind Daniel Ricciardo

3:08:27 > 3:08:30and Ricciardo was changing down one extra gear into Turn 1,

3:08:30 > 3:08:35whereas Kvyat, on two consecutive laps, has kept it a gear higher.

3:08:35 > 3:08:39And I presumed it was because of them trying to keep more momentum.

3:08:39 > 3:08:41But if he's got bad drivability

3:08:41 > 3:08:45then he can't control when he goes back onto the throttle.

3:08:45 > 3:08:48- So, it does tally up a little bit. - Yeah.

3:08:48 > 3:08:50We're just looking at Massa out there.

3:08:50 > 3:08:54Tony, coming back to the whole idea of engines in Formula One

3:08:54 > 3:08:57and the fact that there might be a tender process

3:08:57 > 3:08:59for another engine to be brought in

3:08:59 > 3:09:02that would be like a sort of 2.2-litre turbo

3:09:02 > 3:09:06that would somehow go up against these 1.6 turbo hybrid engines.

3:09:06 > 3:09:10- What are your thoughts on all of that?- It's interesting.

3:09:10 > 3:09:12I think it's a political issue and, to me,

3:09:12 > 3:09:14it's about the control of Formula One.

3:09:14 > 3:09:17At the moment, the manufacturers seem to have all the power.

3:09:17 > 3:09:20They're producing these massively expensive hybrid engines

3:09:20 > 3:09:23that a lot of the smaller teams can't afford.

3:09:23 > 3:09:30And Ferrari recently exercised a veto that they have in the strategy group

3:09:30 > 3:09:34which...the idea was to introduce a cost cap on these engines

3:09:34 > 3:09:36and Ferrari voted against it.

3:09:36 > 3:09:41The FIA president, Jean Todt, he said the thing he feels unfair

3:09:41 > 3:09:44is that you can't expect teams on limited budgets,

3:09:44 > 3:09:47with a division of revenue that's completely unfavourable to them,

3:09:47 > 3:09:49to pay this amount of money for an engine.

3:09:49 > 3:09:52And he's suggesting there should be a 12 billion euro cap

3:09:52 > 3:09:55on what an engine is charged out at.

3:09:55 > 3:09:57Now, the teams say, well...

3:09:57 > 3:10:00Ferrari were saying, we're going to lose money at that.

3:10:00 > 3:10:03He's saying, no, I think that's a fair figure.

3:10:03 > 3:10:06I think this new engine might just be a lever

3:10:06 > 3:10:07to try and force them

3:10:07 > 3:10:11to provide these hybrid engines at sensible cost.

3:10:11 > 3:10:14But if it doesn't happen, if they don't do that,

3:10:14 > 3:10:17then Todt is putting out a tender process

3:10:17 > 3:10:20for someone to produce this engine for 2017

3:10:20 > 3:10:23and they'll come up with some kind of equivalency formula

3:10:23 > 3:10:25to try and make it run at the same sort of level

3:10:25 > 3:10:29as the current hybrids, at a cost that everybody can afford.

3:10:29 > 3:10:33Now, that... When you've invested in all this hybrid technology,

3:10:33 > 3:10:35the road relevance and all this kind of thing,

3:10:35 > 3:10:37that's not the sort of thing you want to hear

3:10:37 > 3:10:39if you're Toto Wolff or Ferrari.

3:10:41 > 3:10:43Hamilton is fastest here at the moment

3:10:43 > 3:10:47from Rosberg, Vettel, Ricciardo and Raikkonen.

3:10:47 > 3:10:49Daniil Kvyat is sixth.

3:10:49 > 3:10:52And then Max Verstappen seventh, Hulkenberg eighth,

3:10:52 > 3:10:55Maldonado is ninth, and Carlos Sainz is currently in tenth place.

3:10:57 > 3:10:59Just below that, we've got Jolyon Palmer,

3:10:59 > 3:11:03Jenson Button and Sergio Perez, with Alonso...

3:11:03 > 3:11:04Massa improved a moment ago.

3:11:04 > 3:11:07We did see a bit of a slide from him down at Turn 4,

3:11:07 > 3:11:10but he managed to gather it all back together again.

3:11:10 > 3:11:13And he's moved up a little bit, but 15th, still further down.

3:11:13 > 3:11:15I know Williams always...

3:11:15 > 3:11:18don't shine a light on Friday,

3:11:18 > 3:11:19but I would have thought...

3:11:19 > 3:11:22would have wanted to see them a little bit nearer the top ten.

3:11:22 > 3:11:24Going back to this engine issue,

3:11:24 > 3:11:29a lot of people who don't know the details of F1 politics

3:11:29 > 3:11:33will say, "How come Ferrari has this veto?

3:11:33 > 3:11:35"How are they able to do that?"

3:11:35 > 3:11:38And Jean Todt himself, the FIA president,

3:11:38 > 3:11:40he said he was Ferrari team principal back in '93

3:11:40 > 3:11:43and he wanted to know where this veto came from.

3:11:43 > 3:11:45And he said it goes all the way back to 1980

3:11:45 > 3:11:47when the Concorde Agreement,

3:11:47 > 3:11:49which is the F1 governors document, was made.

3:11:49 > 3:11:50Enzo Ferrari felt isolated

3:11:50 > 3:11:53against the British teams that all ran a Ford Cosworth engine,

3:11:53 > 3:11:55so he wanted that veto.

3:11:55 > 3:11:58It's been in there ever since, so, you know, more than 35 years.

3:11:58 > 3:12:01- Yes. It all becomes very political. - It does. He said it's like having...

3:12:01 > 3:12:03A veto's like having a gun in your pocket.

3:12:03 > 3:12:05You've got to know when to use it.

3:12:05 > 3:12:07And he said, legally, they can only use it

3:12:07 > 3:12:10if something is done which is against their interests.

3:12:10 > 3:12:13I think we could get into a fight about that down the road.

3:12:13 > 3:12:15I just wanted to bring Allan in on this.

3:12:15 > 3:12:18I know you've moved away from Turn 1. But the whole point...

3:12:18 > 3:12:21You've been a world champion, the World Endurance Championship,

3:12:21 > 3:12:23where there are equivalency formulas.

3:12:23 > 3:12:27You have different technical rules amongst the different manufacturers.

3:12:27 > 3:12:30Do you see that working in Formula One?

3:12:30 > 3:12:32If they brought in this other type of engine,

3:12:32 > 3:12:34do you think they could really equalise its performance

3:12:34 > 3:12:36against what we have now?

3:12:36 > 3:12:38It would be very tough, to be honest.

3:12:38 > 3:12:42Yes, technically, they can do it, but then there's the political game.

3:12:42 > 3:12:45You know, you mentioned about the veto.

3:12:45 > 3:12:50If Ferrari were running with the current specification of engine,

3:12:50 > 3:12:53you can bet they're not going to be very happy

3:12:53 > 3:12:55if someone with a much, much cheaper engine,

3:12:55 > 3:12:57something that they haven't had to invest

3:12:57 > 3:13:00that level of financial commitment into it,

3:13:00 > 3:13:03suddenly, just because of balance of performance,

3:13:03 > 3:13:07basically enhancing the performance but in a non-technical manner,

3:13:07 > 3:13:10and, basically, in a free manner, is able to challenge them.

3:13:10 > 3:13:12So, I think it's a real tough one.

3:13:12 > 3:13:15But I agree with Tony - this is purely a political argument

3:13:15 > 3:13:18and it's something that's been going on behind the scenes

3:13:18 > 3:13:20for quite a long period of time.

3:13:20 > 3:13:23And I do not believe there is an easy solution.

3:13:23 > 3:13:27The best solution is if we can hopefully have Honda and Renault

3:13:27 > 3:13:30fighting a little bit more at the front,

3:13:30 > 3:13:32basically improving their technology

3:13:32 > 3:13:34in comparison to where they are today.

3:13:34 > 3:13:36Then a lot of these discussions and problems

3:13:36 > 3:13:38would go away pretty much instantaneously.

3:13:38 > 3:13:40You're bang on there.

3:13:40 > 3:13:42The other side of the argument is that this is a sport,

3:13:42 > 3:13:45it's not a marketing exercise, and we should have available engines

3:13:45 > 3:13:48for people to be able to go racing with,

3:13:48 > 3:13:50to enable new teams to come in to Formula One,

3:13:50 > 3:13:54to make it viable for that to happen, people like your ARTs, you know...

3:13:54 > 3:13:57They can't make the step to Formula One at the moment

3:13:57 > 3:13:58because it's so expensive.

3:13:58 > 3:13:59But they could make the step

3:13:59 > 3:14:03when there were engines available in the V8 era.

3:14:03 > 3:14:06We've only got one of the three teams that came in

3:14:06 > 3:14:08when they were looking at the cost cap budget.

3:14:08 > 3:14:12I think that's probably the bigger part to a team coming in,

3:14:12 > 3:14:14is, actually, the amount of money they can spend,

3:14:14 > 3:14:19or is needed to spend to be competitive on any level.

3:14:19 > 3:14:22And if it's engines today, aerodynamics before, in the V8 era,

3:14:22 > 3:14:26when it was Red Bull that were ruling the roost.

3:14:26 > 3:14:28Right now, though, I do think something has to be done,

3:14:28 > 3:14:30but I'm just not sure of an easy way out.

3:14:30 > 3:14:34What I do also believe is we can't go backwards.

3:14:34 > 3:14:36We've got to be very careful we don't just say,

3:14:36 > 3:14:39well, it was better in the old days and go back to that.

3:14:39 > 3:14:42We've got to have something that is actually viable for today

3:14:42 > 3:14:43and for the next generation.

3:14:43 > 3:14:47- Yeah, I agree with that.- You're stirring up people on Twitter.

3:14:47 > 3:14:49The F1 engineers saying independent engines,

3:14:49 > 3:14:51F1 was built on independent engines,

3:14:51 > 3:14:53it's what allowed Frank Williams, Ken Tyrrell, et cetera,

3:14:53 > 3:14:55to enter the sport.

3:14:55 > 3:14:57So, it does stir up the emotions, there's no doubt.

3:14:57 > 3:14:58Yeah, it's a valid point.

3:14:58 > 3:15:01You should be able to progress into it.

3:15:01 > 3:15:04You've got teams at the bottom end not performing

3:15:04 > 3:15:07and teams that are class acts in other championships

3:15:07 > 3:15:09that can't look at coming to the pinnacle of the sport,

3:15:09 > 3:15:12and they should be able to.

3:15:12 > 3:15:14Felipe Massa's doing his best to entertain the crowd here.

3:15:14 > 3:15:17He's been more sideways than anybody else, I think,

3:15:17 > 3:15:19throughout the whole of this session.

3:15:19 > 3:15:21I'm not sure the Williams is giving him

3:15:21 > 3:15:23the kind of performance he wants.

3:15:23 > 3:15:25It seems to be sliding around a lot more than expected.

3:15:25 > 3:15:28He's managing to hold it together each time so far,

3:15:28 > 3:15:32but dramatic stuff from Felipe Massa so far in this session.

3:15:32 > 3:15:34We're now watching Carlos Sainz, the Spaniard,

3:15:34 > 3:15:36who's currently 11th in this session.

3:15:36 > 3:15:38Only three-tenths off his team-mate,

3:15:38 > 3:15:41who did drive the practice session here last year.

3:15:41 > 3:15:42So, that's pretty encouraging.

3:15:42 > 3:15:44Still waiting for official confirmation

3:15:44 > 3:15:47that Sainz will be racing for Toro Rosso next year.

3:15:47 > 3:15:49But I think everyone feeling it will go ahead.

3:15:49 > 3:15:52Intriguingly, although he is a little behind Verstappen

3:15:52 > 3:15:56in terms of championship points scored, some 29 behind,

3:15:56 > 3:15:59he's still ahead in the qualifying battle,

3:15:59 > 3:16:04nine to seven versus Verstappen, I believe it is, at the moment.

3:16:04 > 3:16:07That could be sorted out in the last couple of races.

3:16:07 > 3:16:11- I thought it was 9-8 to Verstappen. - Oh, 9-8 to Verstappen now, is it?

3:16:11 > 3:16:13- I might be out of date. - Yeah, I'll have to revisit that.

3:16:13 > 3:16:17- Yeah, OK.- One of us has gone wrong! - Yeah. It's very close.- It is close.

3:16:17 > 3:16:19It's not sorted yet, that's the point.

3:16:19 > 3:16:22That one's still to be resolved as to who's going to be top qualifier

3:16:22 > 3:16:24between Verstappen and Sainz, which is intriguing

3:16:24 > 3:16:27when you think Verstappen's had such a strong season.

3:16:27 > 3:16:30He's using quite a lot of curve as well, isn't he?

3:16:30 > 3:16:34He's had the fair share of the coverage because of his age,

3:16:34 > 3:16:35coming in at 17,

3:16:35 > 3:16:39but you've got to say that Carlos Sainz has had a few incidents

3:16:39 > 3:16:42and some of it's been a bit hairy, but he's done a fantastic job.

3:16:42 > 3:16:45I was talking to Carlos Snr at the last race

3:16:45 > 3:16:48and he's said he's pleased with the way the year's gone.

3:16:48 > 3:16:52Notwithstanding the shunt he had in Sochi

3:16:52 > 3:16:55when Carlos wasn't here, he was competing at another event.

3:16:55 > 3:16:56But he was watching his TV

3:16:56 > 3:17:00and said that was a very uncomfortable 17 minutes.

3:17:00 > 3:17:04- That aside, it's been a fantastic year.- It has indeed.

3:17:04 > 3:17:05Kimi Raikkonen not having

3:17:05 > 3:17:08quite such a fantastic time of it just recently.

3:17:08 > 3:17:11Although he's involved in that battle with Bottas,

3:17:11 > 3:17:14way down in terms of points scored compared to his team-mate.

3:17:14 > 3:17:18But he is going to be part of that Ferrari team next year.

3:17:18 > 3:17:22It will be the two world champions leading the way with Ferrari

3:17:22 > 3:17:23and hoping they're going to have

3:17:23 > 3:17:26a little bit more of a competitive car.

3:17:26 > 3:17:28It's been a brilliant turnaround this year

3:17:28 > 3:17:31from what Ferrari had last year, moving into 2015,

3:17:31 > 3:17:34but how much more can they find for 2016?

3:17:34 > 3:17:35James Allison is the man

3:17:35 > 3:17:38in charge of the technical department at Ferrari,

3:17:38 > 3:17:40and a huge amount of work going on

3:17:40 > 3:17:42to try and just close that gap a little bit more on Mercedes

3:17:42 > 3:17:46and make a real fight for it in next year's world championship.

3:17:46 > 3:17:51A bit of a lock-up from Felipe Nasr. What are your thoughts on Ferrari?

3:17:51 > 3:17:56Do you believe that they've really got what it takes to build a car now

3:17:56 > 3:17:58that is going to challenge Mercedes next year?

3:17:58 > 3:18:01I think the step they made this year has been impressive.

3:18:01 > 3:18:03But when you look at that Mercedes group of people,

3:18:03 > 3:18:05they've got an impressive group of people,

3:18:05 > 3:18:08and I think that's going to be the hard thing.

3:18:08 > 3:18:11You can produce the car and hopefully close the gap,

3:18:11 > 3:18:14but whether it's enough to overcome them, I don't know.

3:18:14 > 3:18:16If you look at it generally, I want to see Honda make a step.

3:18:16 > 3:18:18I want to see the Renault engine better as well.

3:18:18 > 3:18:21Because we all knew that when they introduced these new engines,

3:18:21 > 3:18:23somebody would do a better job than the rest,

3:18:23 > 3:18:25and that's exactly what's happened.

3:18:25 > 3:18:29But as you go further down the road, people catch up.

3:18:29 > 3:18:32Then, hopefully, we can get back to that real nitty-gritty

3:18:32 > 3:18:35with three or four teams involved, rather than just one dominating.

3:18:35 > 3:18:37Watching Fernando Alonso.

3:18:37 > 3:18:39He's one that needs all those Honda improvements

3:18:39 > 3:18:41to come through for next year.

3:18:41 > 3:18:44The early testing's going to be very interesting

3:18:44 > 3:18:45at the beginning of next season

3:18:45 > 3:18:49just to see who's come up with the goods and who hasn't

3:18:49 > 3:18:51and what effect that then has on drivers

3:18:51 > 3:18:53and their happiness or otherwise,

3:18:53 > 3:18:55going through the rest of the season.

3:18:55 > 3:18:57Alonso currently 16th in this session.

3:18:57 > 3:19:00His team-mate, Jenson Button, is 13th.

3:19:00 > 3:19:03And the gap to the leaders is 1.8 seconds in both cases.

3:19:03 > 3:19:06Interestingly, they've done very similar lap times.

3:19:06 > 3:19:08It's very close in that section,

3:19:08 > 3:19:12from Jolyon Palmer, who's 1.8 seconds off Hamilton's time,

3:19:12 > 3:19:16then you've got Nasr, Button, Perez and Alonso

3:19:16 > 3:19:19all on, basically, the same lap time,

3:19:19 > 3:19:21which is very, very close indeed.

3:19:21 > 3:19:23You talked about those first tests

3:19:23 > 3:19:26and the fingers crossed all the way through the paddock.

3:19:26 > 3:19:28It is anxious moments.

3:19:28 > 3:19:31You turn up, you get in and you think, "What's it like?"

3:19:31 > 3:19:34Development does happen, but you know if you've got a lemon

3:19:34 > 3:19:36at the first test, you might have a lemon...

3:19:36 > 3:19:40Oh! And off goes Raikkonen! Raikkonen in a big, big spin.

3:19:40 > 3:19:41He's going through the gravel trap.

3:19:41 > 3:19:44Hopefully, he's going to drag it back out

3:19:44 > 3:19:47onto a little bit of tarmac, which he does.

3:19:47 > 3:19:48Can he get home?

3:19:48 > 3:19:51Yeah, that's the question. I think he probably can.

3:19:51 > 3:19:52That's down at Turn 4.

3:19:52 > 3:19:55That's where we've seen incidents in the past.

3:19:55 > 3:19:58Looks like he lost it underbraking, perhaps.

3:19:58 > 3:19:59We'll have to look at a replay.

3:19:59 > 3:20:03But dramatic moment there for Kimi Raikkonen. Another one.

3:20:03 > 3:20:05He's been having a few dramatic moments, hasn't he?

3:20:05 > 3:20:08Crashed out at the USA Grand Prix on his own, of course.

3:20:08 > 3:20:09He's in the background,

3:20:09 > 3:20:12but it was down at this next corner that he's approaching

3:20:12 > 3:20:14that something goes wrong somewhere along the lines.

3:20:14 > 3:20:17Certainly not out by the white line initially.

3:20:17 > 3:20:20- Oh!- That's very strange. - Yeah. That WAS strange.

3:20:20 > 3:20:23Seemed to lock the left rear, or maybe both rears.

3:20:23 > 3:20:26So, maybe it was just either a brake balance

3:20:26 > 3:20:29or an energy recovery problem.

3:20:29 > 3:20:32Of course, as soon as these cars go onto the brakes,

3:20:32 > 3:20:36they're recovering electrical energy from those rear wheels,

3:20:36 > 3:20:37from the rear axle,

3:20:37 > 3:20:40and sometimes, if the settings are a little bit wrong,

3:20:40 > 3:20:42that can kick out the back end of the car out.

3:20:42 > 3:20:44Maybe it was something to do with that.

3:20:44 > 3:20:46There's a decent amount of run-off down there

3:20:46 > 3:20:48and he bounced his way through the gravel.

3:20:48 > 3:20:50It was also the corner, famously,

3:20:50 > 3:20:53that Sebastian Vettel ended up facing the wrong way here in 2012

3:20:53 > 3:20:55in his championship battle

3:20:55 > 3:20:58and ended up restarting right at the back of the field.

3:20:58 > 3:21:00- Gave himself a tough afternoon.- Yeah.

3:21:00 > 3:21:01That was a remarkable race,

3:21:01 > 3:21:04one of the best Formula One races of recent history.

3:21:04 > 3:21:06But Raikkonen's limped back in.

3:21:06 > 3:21:08I think there's a fair old bit of gravel through that car.

3:21:08 > 3:21:10I wouldn't be surprised

3:21:10 > 3:21:12if that's the end of the running for this session.

3:21:12 > 3:21:13They'll want to clean the car out

3:21:13 > 3:21:17before getting him ready for the second practice session here today.

3:21:17 > 3:21:19Hamilton's still fastest,

3:21:19 > 3:21:23but he's just gone back out onto the circuit, as has Rosberg...

3:21:23 > 3:21:25No, Rosberg's still in the pit.

3:21:25 > 3:21:28So, we'll wait to see if Rosberg's going to come back out.

3:21:28 > 3:21:31Vettel, currently third fastest, is on track.

3:21:31 > 3:21:33But he's not lapping particularly quickly.

3:21:33 > 3:21:35And Raikkonen's been sent on his way again,

3:21:35 > 3:21:39so they obviously feel there's not too much drama.

3:21:39 > 3:21:44Now... Jenson Button joining as Palmer was waved out.

3:21:44 > 3:21:45Ooh, dear.

3:21:45 > 3:21:47Palmer didn't look at all,

3:21:47 > 3:21:50but, obviously, it was more the mistake of the team.

3:21:50 > 3:21:52He was waved out.

3:21:52 > 3:21:55You can see the guy in front of the Lotus who waved him out

3:21:55 > 3:21:56and obviously shouldn't have done,

3:21:56 > 3:22:00because Button was already on his way down the pit.

3:22:00 > 3:22:03I'm sure Jenson would have been on the radio quickly

3:22:03 > 3:22:05to say, "What's going on here?"

3:22:05 > 3:22:07Raikkonen has rejoined once again.

3:22:07 > 3:22:09And there's Rosberg.

3:22:09 > 3:22:11So, both Mercedes are on track.

3:22:11 > 3:22:13I doubt they're going to be able to go quicker

3:22:13 > 3:22:15than what they've done already.

3:22:15 > 3:22:18That lap of 1:13.5 by Lewis Hamilton

3:22:18 > 3:22:21half a second faster than team-mate Nico Rosberg.

3:22:21 > 3:22:23But these tyres have now done...

3:22:23 > 3:22:26Hamilton's done a total of 21 laps in this session,

3:22:26 > 3:22:29although that's on both sets of tyres.

3:22:29 > 3:22:31But the tyres will be past their best now

3:22:31 > 3:22:34and it's unlikely, I would think, they're going to be able to improve

3:22:34 > 3:22:37on the lap times they set slightly earlier on.

3:22:37 > 3:22:40But still a pretty impressive run from Hamilton

3:22:40 > 3:22:42to put in the time that he did.

3:22:42 > 3:22:45Vettel still holding on to third place,

3:22:45 > 3:22:48Ricciardo in fourth and Raikkonen in fifth position.

3:22:48 > 3:22:51How much confidence do you think Nico Rosberg

3:22:51 > 3:22:53will bring into this event,

3:22:53 > 3:22:56based on what he achieved in Mexico last time?

3:22:56 > 3:22:59Let's look at Massa. Did he have a lock-up into the first corner?

3:22:59 > 3:23:02Yes, he did. Front left.

3:23:02 > 3:23:04A little bit of a slide.

3:23:04 > 3:23:07Again, he seems to be struggling for grip generally.

3:23:07 > 3:23:09But how much confidence will Rosberg bring in to this even?

3:23:09 > 3:23:13He's got to come here as confident as you can be against Lewis Hamilton,

3:23:13 > 3:23:16because he knows what he did here last year,

3:23:16 > 3:23:17he's taken the last four poles

3:23:17 > 3:23:20and he seems to have reworked that equation between sort of

3:23:20 > 3:23:23qualifying and race performance a little bit. You remember, last year,

3:23:23 > 3:23:26he actually got the upper hand over Lewis in qualifying.

3:23:26 > 3:23:30This year, Lewis has dominated, he's taken the last four poles.

3:23:30 > 3:23:34He won here convincingly last year. He won convincingly last time out

3:23:34 > 3:23:38at you know, in Mexico, so he can't be any more confident, I don't think.

3:23:38 > 3:23:42Right, well, it should provide us with that good head-to-head rivalry

3:23:42 > 3:23:44that we've seen so much of, of course,

3:23:44 > 3:23:48that didn't quite electrify the championship as much as last year,

3:23:48 > 3:23:51because, last year, it did all go down to the final round.

3:23:51 > 3:23:53Rosberg managed to kind of stay right in the hunt, didn't he,

3:23:53 > 3:23:55right down to that last round in Abu Dhabi.

3:23:55 > 3:23:58Clearly, that hasn't happened this year.

3:23:58 > 3:24:00But if Rosberg can finish off the season in style,

3:24:00 > 3:24:03then you've got to feel he's going to go into next year with

3:24:03 > 3:24:05a bit of a boost that Hamilton can be beaten.

3:24:05 > 3:24:08The other thing, of course, is that, with the championships decided,

3:24:08 > 3:24:11there's nothing restraining him, you know, you just go for it, don't you?

3:24:11 > 3:24:14And I'm sure he'll get the gloves off a bit more than he has been,

3:24:14 > 3:24:17you know, when there's been championships and titles at stake,

3:24:17 > 3:24:21and he's got nothing to lose - just go for it and hope the best.

3:24:21 > 3:24:25So into... Nearly into the final five minutes. Just ticking away.

3:24:25 > 3:24:295½ minutes to go in this - our first practice session from Brazil.

3:24:29 > 3:24:34We're in this island of a circuit right in the heart of Sao Paulo,

3:24:34 > 3:24:36a little bit away from the actual centre of the city,

3:24:36 > 3:24:39about 13 miles from the actual city centre,

3:24:39 > 3:24:41but it is such a spread-eagled city, this,

3:24:41 > 3:24:44that it is developed all around this circuit.

3:24:44 > 3:24:47Interlagos, meaning "between the lakes".

3:24:47 > 3:24:50Two big reservoirs were originally built here.

3:24:50 > 3:24:52In fact, this track has been around for a long time,

3:24:52 > 3:24:54from the end of the 1930s.

3:24:54 > 3:24:58It first sort of started being used in the 1940s in its original layout.

3:24:58 > 3:25:00So it's been around for an awfully long time,

3:25:00 > 3:25:04even if Formula One didn't come here until the 1970s,

3:25:04 > 3:25:07but it is a very special place and what we've seen so far

3:25:07 > 3:25:10is Mercedes again setting the pace.

3:25:10 > 3:25:12Hamilton and Rosberg were very much trading times

3:25:12 > 3:25:15early on in this session, the difference just a few thousandths,

3:25:15 > 3:25:18but suddenly, Hamilton found half a second.

3:25:18 > 3:25:19He'd gone wide on one lap.

3:25:19 > 3:25:23The next time, he did a quick lap, he really put in a fast one.

3:25:23 > 3:25:27Just watching Rosberg here and, yeah, he locked to the inside front

3:25:27 > 3:25:31and had to take a bit of an escape road round the edge of the curve

3:25:31 > 3:25:33through the second part of the Senna S, so, again, the grip level

3:25:33 > 3:25:37just isn't there now on these tyres that have done a few laps.

3:25:37 > 3:25:40So Rosberg is currently second, Vettel back in the pits now.

3:25:40 > 3:25:43He is third fastest in his Ferrari and only a little bit off Rosberg.

3:25:43 > 3:25:47Don't forget, Vettel can still claim second place in the Championship.

3:25:47 > 3:25:51Rosberg moved back into second after that victory in Mexico.

3:25:51 > 3:25:53But Vettel has not given up on beating Rosberg

3:25:53 > 3:25:56to second in the points at the end of the season.

3:25:56 > 3:25:59Ricciardo currently fourth, holding on well with the Red Bull.

3:25:59 > 3:26:01Raikkonen fifth and Kvyat sixth.

3:26:01 > 3:26:04And then, Bottas is seventh, so Bottas's lap certainly

3:26:04 > 3:26:07putting Williams back up where we would expect them to be,

3:26:07 > 3:26:10in that group with Ferrari and Red Bull.

3:26:10 > 3:26:13Verstappen in eighth place, Hulkenberg in ninth, so again,

3:26:13 > 3:26:17a Toro Rosso and a Force India and a Lotus all in the top ten there.

3:26:17 > 3:26:20And, when we know how close it is between Toro Rosso and Lotus,

3:26:20 > 3:26:23that could prove to be interesting as we go through the weekend.

3:26:23 > 3:26:26Sainz in 11th place, in his Toro Rosso.

3:26:26 > 3:26:30Jolyon Palmer in a good 12th, as he learns the circuit too, of course.

3:26:30 > 3:26:32Button 13th, Nasr 14th,

3:26:32 > 3:26:35and then, Perez in 15th place followed by Alonso, Massa,

3:26:35 > 3:26:37who's been struggling for grip.

3:26:37 > 3:26:40Kimi Raikkonen now out of his car and maybe they do want to try

3:26:40 > 3:26:43and clear out some gravel from some tricky areas.

3:26:43 > 3:26:47Ericsson is 18th, Rossi is currently 19th and Stevens is 20th.

3:26:47 > 3:26:49Yeah, there's Kimi striding down the paddock there.

3:26:49 > 3:26:51We got sight of the widened paddock

3:26:51 > 3:26:53and the work that's been done here by the Brazilians,

3:26:53 > 3:26:56cos it was traditionally one of the narrowest paddocks

3:26:56 > 3:26:59and you were sort of winding your way between stacks of tyres

3:26:59 > 3:27:01most of the time as you went down the paddock.

3:27:01 > 3:27:03Yeah, it's definitely easier for the teams.

3:27:03 > 3:27:06The hospitality areas have now got a bit more space, um,

3:27:06 > 3:27:09but it needs a bit of finishing off, even Felipe Massa admitted

3:27:09 > 3:27:12that it wasn't perhaps quite all it could be yet

3:27:12 > 3:27:15and that there is still some work to be done there.

3:27:15 > 3:27:18Perez crosses the line, then. Some of these guys will be running

3:27:18 > 3:27:20a little bit more fuel in the cars now and, of course,

3:27:20 > 3:27:23that's what we'll be looking for in the second practice session today,

3:27:23 > 3:27:26when they come out again. And just watching, once again,

3:27:26 > 3:27:28Carlos Sainz locking up on that pit-lane entry.

3:27:28 > 3:27:30He's really been attacking that pit-lane entry,

3:27:30 > 3:27:32trying to establish where the limit is.

3:27:32 > 3:27:35There's a kind of swoopy chicane as you come in there

3:27:35 > 3:27:40and it's very easy to just overcook it a little bit on the approach.

3:27:40 > 3:27:43And Pastor Maldonado... Oh, a big, big slide from him.

3:27:43 > 3:27:44Laying down some rubber!

3:27:44 > 3:27:48And, again, as he went through the hairpin right-hander,

3:27:48 > 3:27:51the Lotus sliding around a great deal.

3:27:51 > 3:27:55But I think Lotus feel that this will be a relatively stronger track,

3:27:55 > 3:27:58perhaps, for them, um, than the final track at Abu Dhabi,

3:27:58 > 3:28:02so they do want to try and make the most of it here this weekend.

3:28:02 > 3:28:05A couple of minutes to go. Still quite a few cars on track.

3:28:05 > 3:28:0714 cars on track at the moment.

3:28:07 > 3:28:09Six in the pit-lane.

3:28:09 > 3:28:11And Sebastian Vettel is one of those six.

3:28:11 > 3:28:16Yeah, looking at the Maldonado there, he's just put in 1:15.192,

3:28:16 > 3:28:19which compares with Jolyon Palmer's 1:15.352,

3:28:19 > 3:28:22so a decent performance there by Jolyon, who, finally,

3:28:22 > 3:28:26has got a decent number of laps - 31 laps on the board -

3:28:26 > 3:28:28- so about time! - Yeah, it is about time.

3:28:28 > 3:28:30We're watching Jolyon Palmer now,

3:28:30 > 3:28:33um, with that seat lined up for next year,

3:28:33 > 3:28:36so important to get as much mileage under his belt

3:28:36 > 3:28:39and, as you say, with the conditions that we've had recently,

3:28:39 > 3:28:42he's been hugely out of luck, in terms of getting much driving,

3:28:42 > 3:28:44so this is a big bonus for him, a big boost,

3:28:44 > 3:28:48and there'll be one more, of course. I wonder if he'll end up doing

3:28:48 > 3:28:50some of the Abu Dhabi testing as well for the team.

3:28:50 > 3:28:54Of course, there are some tests lined up after the final race.

3:28:54 > 3:28:57- Yeah.- Part of that's going to be Pirelli tyre testing as well,

3:28:57 > 3:28:59- when they look forward to next year.- Yeah, it is.

3:28:59 > 3:29:02When you talk about those tests, you look at the Red Bull situation.

3:29:02 > 3:29:05Christian said at the end of the last race, we need to make a decision,

3:29:05 > 3:29:08we need to have it all nailed down in the next two weeks,

3:29:08 > 3:29:11otherwise we're going to be marginal on some of that testing.

3:29:11 > 3:29:13Yeah, that's right. It's, er...

3:29:13 > 3:29:15The Red Bull situation is not easy for them,

3:29:15 > 3:29:18when they need to build a car and they don't know exactly which

3:29:18 > 3:29:21engine it's going to be running, but at least it's sounding a bit more

3:29:21 > 3:29:24optimistic that they will definitely be there one way or another.

3:29:24 > 3:29:27It's just a question of the format and which engine

3:29:27 > 3:29:31and how much involvement they'll have in it themselves.

3:29:31 > 3:29:32That's what's being looked at.

3:29:32 > 3:29:35So Jolyon Palmer continues on around.

3:29:35 > 3:29:40We'll see him come to the end of his bit of driving fairly shortly now,

3:29:40 > 3:29:43of course, for the weekend. The rest of the weekend,

3:29:43 > 3:29:46he'll have to sit out and watch Romain Grosjean take over.

3:29:46 > 3:29:49But the reigning... Well, he WAS the reigning GP2 champion.

3:29:49 > 3:29:51Of course, that place has been taken now by another driver

3:29:51 > 3:29:55who is here this weekend - Stoffel Vandoorne - who is once again

3:29:55 > 3:30:00on duty this weekend as the reserve driver for the McLaren team,

3:30:00 > 3:30:03but he has already wrapped up this year's GP2 Championship.

3:30:03 > 3:30:06Lewis Hamilton on track. The chequered flag comes out.

3:30:06 > 3:30:08No improvements in times from the two Mercedes guys

3:30:08 > 3:30:11on the last couple of laps. Again, last time around,

3:30:11 > 3:30:14Hamilton was about three-tenths faster than Rosberg,

3:30:14 > 3:30:17so there's no doubt that he's showing good pace here this time

3:30:17 > 3:30:20and, having been outpaced by Rosberg here 12 months ago,

3:30:20 > 3:30:23clearly, he is ready to redress the balance

3:30:23 > 3:30:27and try and earn both pole position and take victory here.

3:30:27 > 3:30:30He has had a pole position here. That was back in 2012.

3:30:30 > 3:30:33But as we mentioned, although it was a race he led,

3:30:33 > 3:30:35in the end, a clash with Nico Hulkenberg

3:30:35 > 3:30:38denied him the opportunity to take victory on that occasion.

3:30:38 > 3:30:40And he wants to put that behind him this time.

3:30:40 > 3:30:43He comes up over the start-finish line to see that chequered flag,

3:30:43 > 3:30:46complete his number of laps, that's 28 laps he's done,

3:30:46 > 3:30:48a good session for Hamilton.

3:30:48 > 3:30:50Rosberg's done a little bit more -

3:30:50 > 3:30:5435 laps have been done by Nico Rosberg.

3:30:54 > 3:30:57And I think, in terms of looking at who's done the most laps,

3:30:57 > 3:31:02it looks to be Verstappen, who's done 38 laps in the Toro Rosso.

3:31:02 > 3:31:06Yes, Sainz matching him, so, as ever, Toro Rosso not afraid of

3:31:06 > 3:31:10sending their rookie drivers out to get as much track time as possible

3:31:10 > 3:31:13and Sainz and Verstappen have done plenty of that.

3:31:13 > 3:31:16So, most of the teams now will be going over the cars

3:31:16 > 3:31:19with a fine-tooth comb before the second session.

3:31:19 > 3:31:22It's the shorter lap here at Interlagos.

3:31:22 > 3:31:26And, at some tracks, with a lap time of 1:13.5,

3:31:26 > 3:31:28it's only 2.6 miles in length, in fact,

3:31:28 > 3:31:32so that is an indicator as to why we have more laps completed here

3:31:32 > 3:31:36than we would perhaps see at most of the circuits around the world.

3:31:36 > 3:31:41And Williams' Felipe Massa didn't look that happy in the car.

3:31:41 > 3:31:43Ended up down in 17th place there.

3:31:43 > 3:31:46But a bit more encouraging - Valtteri Bottas was seventh.

3:31:46 > 3:31:49There's not usually huge amount to choose between them,

3:31:49 > 3:31:52so you would think that they'll find some improvements for him.

3:31:52 > 3:31:55And Felipe Nasr, the other Brazilian who's here this weekend, of course,

3:31:55 > 3:31:58he ended up the session in 14th position.

3:31:58 > 3:32:01A respectable performance, he's faster than his team-mate,

3:32:01 > 3:32:05Marcus Ericsson, by around four-tenths of a second,

3:32:05 > 3:32:08so I think he'll be reasonably happy with that.

3:32:08 > 3:32:11But, in general terms, Sauber doesn't seem to have got

3:32:11 > 3:32:14as much out of the aero update that they had a few races ago

3:32:14 > 3:32:16as perhaps had been hoped for, I think.

3:32:16 > 3:32:18Oh, it looked quite promising initially, didn't it?

3:32:18 > 3:32:21But, yeah, it's, er... That's a good showing, that,

3:32:21 > 3:32:23to have four-tenths in hand

3:32:23 > 3:32:25over your team-mate.

3:32:25 > 3:32:26So Lewis Hamilton finishes

3:32:26 > 3:32:28the first practice session here

3:32:28 > 3:32:29with quite a margin over

3:32:29 > 3:32:30his team-mate - half a second.

3:32:30 > 3:32:33Sebastian Vettel, though, staying in the hunt for Ferrari

3:32:33 > 3:32:35and Daniel Ricciardo up there for Red Bull.

3:32:37 > 3:32:40Valtteri Bottas showing good form in the Williams, in seventh.

3:32:44 > 3:32:48And really mixing up the different manufacturers and cars involved,

3:32:48 > 3:32:51Pastor Maldonado rounding out the top ten for Lotus.

3:32:51 > 3:32:53So we've got Toro Rosso, Force India and Lotus

3:32:53 > 3:32:55all joining in to that top ten.

3:32:55 > 3:32:57Outside the top ten was Carlos Sainz

3:32:57 > 3:33:00in the second Toro Rosso, then Jolyon Palmer in his Lotus.

3:33:00 > 3:33:04Jenson Button will be a bit more encouraged perhaps with 13th place,

3:33:04 > 3:33:06but it doesn't always relate to that in qualifying.

3:33:06 > 3:33:08Felipe Nasr 14th, ahead of Perez,

3:33:08 > 3:33:12and Alonso, with Felipe Massa 17th, Ericsson 18th,

3:33:12 > 3:33:16and Rossi just ahead of Stevens down at the back of the field.

3:33:21 > 3:33:23It was an interesting session,

3:33:23 > 3:33:25and we'll be talking about that in just a minute,

3:33:25 > 3:33:27but I'm delighted to say Emerson Fittipaldi has joined us,

3:33:27 > 3:33:30just sneaking in there at the last minute.

3:33:30 > 3:33:33Emerson, you always come here, you always support this race,

3:33:33 > 3:33:35does it ever lose that special feeling

3:33:35 > 3:33:37when you walk back into Interlagos?

3:33:37 > 3:33:39Every time I'm getting close to the gate outside,

3:33:39 > 3:33:42I hear the racing cars... Goose bumps.

3:33:42 > 3:33:45- Really?- Oh, yes, it doesn't change.

3:33:45 > 3:33:49I think Interlagos now is getting better, the infrastructure,

3:33:49 > 3:33:52like Mexico, was fantastic.

3:33:52 > 3:33:58We have to keep Latin America on the map of Grand Prix racing.

3:33:58 > 3:34:02There's a lot of influence from Asia, from Middle East,

3:34:02 > 3:34:07and the passion, the love for motor races here, like it was in Mexico.

3:34:07 > 3:34:11Also, do you think what we saw, the fantastic atmosphere in Mexico,

3:34:11 > 3:34:14that actually Sao Paulo and Interlagos

3:34:14 > 3:34:16also needs to boost that as well?

3:34:16 > 3:34:19There's never been a problem, but the stakes have been raised now

3:34:19 > 3:34:21that we've had Mexico.

3:34:21 > 3:34:24Mexico, it went to a different level.

3:34:24 > 3:34:26It was a fantastic Grand Prix,

3:34:26 > 3:34:29but, you know, the countries that love motor race

3:34:29 > 3:34:30is the countries that really enjoy -

3:34:30 > 3:34:33I mean, going back to England,

3:34:33 > 3:34:35the heart of Grand Prix racing, the heart of racing -

3:34:35 > 3:34:40These are the countries that enjoy and understand what is going on.

3:34:40 > 3:34:43That's why you have this passion. You feel the atmosphere.

3:34:43 > 3:34:46You won this particular Grand Prix, your home Grand Prix,

3:34:46 > 3:34:48in '73 and '74.

3:34:48 > 3:34:51What would it mean for this country if Felipe Massa, for example,

3:34:51 > 3:34:53was to take a victory on Sunday,

3:34:53 > 3:34:56or a Brazilian driver fighting for the

3:34:56 > 3:34:57Formula One World Championship again?

3:34:57 > 3:35:00The country would go crazy.

3:35:00 > 3:35:02It nearly closes the World Cup!

3:35:02 > 3:35:08We lost 7-1 to Germany, now we have to recover in Grand Prix racing!

3:35:08 > 3:35:11And just A word on Lewis Hamilton, now a three-time World Champion.

3:35:11 > 3:35:14What have you made of his season and his strengths?

3:35:14 > 3:35:17He seems to have got even stronger than last year.

3:35:17 > 3:35:23When I follow Lewis, I follow him since he was in Formula Three.

3:35:23 > 3:35:26And he's growing, he's growing. He's a fantastic ambassador.

3:35:26 > 3:35:28He deserved the Championship.

3:35:28 > 3:35:33He drives on the edge that not many drivers are able to drive,

3:35:33 > 3:35:37and he delivers what we expect.

3:35:37 > 3:35:39And he's great for the fans, great...

3:35:39 > 3:35:42I mean he has millions of followers in Brazil.

3:35:42 > 3:35:44We love him in Brazil.

3:35:44 > 3:35:48He's a fantastic ambassador for Grand Prix racing and for England.

3:35:48 > 3:35:51There's a lot of young Fittipaldis out there racing.

3:35:51 > 3:35:53When will we see them on the Formula One grid?

3:35:53 > 3:35:56They are driving crazy!

3:35:56 > 3:35:58They're driving quickly and crazy.

3:35:58 > 3:36:00Pietro, it was funny,

3:36:00 > 3:36:04I was in Mexico Grand Prix, Pietro won the race in Abu Dhabi,

3:36:04 > 3:36:07and my youngest son, eight years old, was leading

3:36:07 > 3:36:08and was winning go-kart racing

3:36:08 > 3:36:14in Sao Paulo and Enzo, who's 13, was testing Ginetta in England.

3:36:14 > 3:36:18I said, "Grandfather, father..." I was confused.

3:36:18 > 3:36:19LAUGHTER

3:36:19 > 3:36:21It's always such a pleasure to talk to you.

3:36:21 > 3:36:24Have a fantastic weekend. I'm sure we'll catch up again.

3:36:24 > 3:36:27- Thank you very much. Great to see you guys.- Thank you.

3:36:27 > 3:36:30But it was an interesting session out there and, Allan,

3:36:30 > 3:36:32the one thing that we were talking about

3:36:32 > 3:36:34- was just the lack of grip on this track.- Yep.

3:36:34 > 3:36:38Yes, that's the thing about it, the circuit was resurfaced last year.

3:36:38 > 3:36:41Here is Max Verstappen coming through the Senna S and you see

3:36:41 > 3:36:45it on his steering wheel, he was just as he made an upshift and he

3:36:45 > 3:36:47lost the rear end of the car, went into a half-spin.

3:36:47 > 3:36:51This is Sebastian Vettel coming into the last corner at the beginning

3:36:51 > 3:36:55of the session, as soon as he turns in, that moment, he loses the rear

3:36:55 > 3:36:58and he has to open up the steering and runs a little bit wide.

3:36:58 > 3:37:00You see this from the onboard nose camera.

3:37:00 > 3:37:03At the point he turns in, the apex, at that moment he opens up

3:37:03 > 3:37:06the steering and that's it. It's a small, small mistake.

3:37:06 > 3:37:09However, that's the thing about this circuit.

3:37:09 > 3:37:12It's old school. If you make a small mistake, it is a big penalty.

3:37:12 > 3:37:14Hamilton into Turn 1, he had just gone fastest

3:37:14 > 3:37:18by half a second, trying to better that time and locked up.

3:37:18 > 3:37:20Into 1, there's a lot of camber on the inside

3:37:20 > 3:37:22and it falls away from you.

3:37:22 > 3:37:24That inside left-hand tyre that locked up

3:37:24 > 3:37:26has got very little load onto it.

3:37:26 > 3:37:29Here's Kimi Raikkonen, the one that went through the gravel.

3:37:29 > 3:37:31At the instant he touched the brakes, I think

3:37:31 > 3:37:35the hybrid system was recuperating very aggressively at the end

3:37:35 > 3:37:40of the long back straight. 210mph as he hits the brakes into there.

3:37:40 > 3:37:42Locked up and he did a 360.

3:37:42 > 3:37:46Came straight back into the pits, Lee, and immediately after that,

3:37:46 > 3:37:48he was walking past us with a very grumpy face on.

3:37:48 > 3:37:52Yeah, it certainly wasn't worth trying to intercept him for any form

3:37:52 > 3:37:53of conversation at that point!

3:37:53 > 3:37:56You say it was interesting, the car seemed to kick out

3:37:56 > 3:37:58a little bit, from the front.

3:37:58 > 3:38:00That's one of the things about this circuit.

3:38:00 > 3:38:04They've got a load of road cambers, and into Turn 4, you do have

3:38:04 > 3:38:06a little bit of a slope towards the left.

3:38:06 > 3:38:09The car then jumped right because the rear's locked,

3:38:09 > 3:38:10especially that left rear.

3:38:10 > 3:38:13As soon as he touched the brakes, the hybrid system is recuperating

3:38:13 > 3:38:16massively at the high speed at that moment in time,

3:38:16 > 3:38:18and it just seemed to spit him off into the gravel.

3:38:18 > 3:38:21It was an interesting day for Williams. Rob Smedley is here.

3:38:21 > 3:38:24Seventh for Valterri, 17th for Felipe.

3:38:24 > 3:38:26How would you sum that session up?

3:38:26 > 3:38:29Erm, well, just taking Valtteri first,

3:38:29 > 3:38:32I think it was quite a good session for us,

3:38:32 > 3:38:37with the fuel that we normally have in the car for that first session...

3:38:39 > 3:38:41..and the way that we run the engine,

3:38:41 > 3:38:45we never expected to be very high up the order, but that was quite good.

3:38:45 > 3:38:48We did a bit of a long run at the end and that was quite good as well,

3:38:48 > 3:38:52degradation was good, we managed to get the temperatures under control.

3:38:52 > 3:38:56We were playing about with tyre heating and we seemed to have found

3:38:56 > 3:38:59the sweet spot on Valtteri's car. Felipe took the other direction,

3:38:59 > 3:39:01so I'm sure we're going to correct him for the next session.

3:39:01 > 3:39:04And the circuit itself seemed to be very slippery.

3:39:04 > 3:39:06Was that with all the works that have gone on?

3:39:06 > 3:39:08Maybe it put some dust onto the circuit.

3:39:08 > 3:39:10Did it get better as the session went on?

3:39:10 > 3:39:13It definitely got better, but it was very dirty.

3:39:13 > 3:39:15It was the dirtiest I've ever seen it here.

3:39:15 > 3:39:18The pit-lane is very dusty.

3:39:18 > 3:39:20It's almost like they've ground the surface down

3:39:20 > 3:39:25on the concrete apron out the front of the garages and there was a lot

3:39:25 > 3:39:27of dust and it was getting better.

3:39:27 > 3:39:29It'll be fine tomorrow.

3:39:29 > 3:39:31And that probably comes from the building work going

3:39:31 > 3:39:33on here are the moment. There have been changes.

3:39:33 > 3:39:34Not quite complete in some places,

3:39:34 > 3:39:36but certainly a lot of dust in the pit-lane.

3:39:36 > 3:39:40Just one thing - the delta between Lewis Hamilton and your cells,

3:39:40 > 3:39:42is that exactly what you expected?

3:39:42 > 3:39:44Do you see yourself up there fighting with Sebastian Vettel

3:39:44 > 3:39:47for the second row of the grid, where you were last year?

3:39:47 > 3:39:49Yeah, I hope so, I mean, if...

3:39:49 > 3:39:53We track ourselves throughout the sessions, obviously, and we can,

3:39:53 > 3:39:58even from P1, we can pretty much tell where we'll be in qualifying,

3:39:58 > 3:40:02so it looks like Mercedes will be a little bit in front, but then it'll

3:40:02 > 3:40:05be a close fight between us and Ferrari for that second row.

3:40:05 > 3:40:08Rob, thanks very much. You've got to go to debrief, but

3:40:08 > 3:40:11- thanks for taking the time to stop by and join us.- You're very welcome.

3:40:11 > 3:40:14We were talking about how slippy it was on track, but it's also

3:40:14 > 3:40:17quite an interesting pit-lane here as well.

3:40:17 > 3:40:21Even the entrance into the pit-lane, as we can see with Carlos Sainz, Jr,

3:40:21 > 3:40:22not an easy one.

3:40:22 > 3:40:24No, it isn't. It's got a little jink into it.

3:40:24 > 3:40:27You come into it flat-out in seventh gear,

3:40:27 > 3:40:29and you've got that little moment.

3:40:29 > 3:40:32He locked up here. Here is an unsafe release, though.

3:40:32 > 3:40:34You've got the McLaren coming out

3:40:34 > 3:40:38and Palmer was released by his mechanic. Basically...

3:40:38 > 3:40:41Onboard here with Jenson and you can see that he's accelerating,

3:40:41 > 3:40:44he's already in the fast lane. Palmer is released, the mechanic

3:40:44 > 3:40:47doesn't seem to look to see if there's anything coming

3:40:47 > 3:40:50and at the same time, Palmer's a little bit slow just getting away.

3:40:50 > 3:40:53I think if it was a race, that would definitely be an unsafe release.

3:40:53 > 3:40:56- Absolutely.- However, in this situation I think they'll let it go.

3:40:56 > 3:40:58And good avoiding action from Jenson Button.

3:40:58 > 3:41:01- He's got a bit of experience!- He does have a bit of experience!

3:41:01 > 3:41:06In terms of this weekend - we were talking to Rob there -

3:41:06 > 3:41:10Williams, Ferrari, they have been level pegging for a while.

3:41:10 > 3:41:12Ferrari do seem to have edged ahead.

3:41:12 > 3:41:14They're not quite McLaren, but they're more than Williams.

3:41:14 > 3:41:17Ferrari are at an interesting time in their development,

3:41:17 > 3:41:18heading into 2016.

3:41:18 > 3:41:21Looking at the stats through the year, they've actually improved

3:41:21 > 3:41:23in the second half of the season,

3:41:23 > 3:41:25basically more than any of the contemporaries around them.

3:41:25 > 3:41:27They've got closer to Mercedes

3:41:27 > 3:41:30and that's really lifted them ahead of Williams.

3:41:30 > 3:41:34However, on certain circuits like this, that big, long pull-out

3:41:34 > 3:41:36at the last corner all the way to Turn 1,

3:41:36 > 3:41:40the run down to Turn 4, their engine power and boost could help them.

3:41:40 > 3:41:43However, one thing they'll all be doing is looking at the weather

3:41:43 > 3:41:45because if it rains, that definitely doesn't suit Williams

3:41:45 > 3:41:48and that was maybe an opportunity also for Ferrari

3:41:48 > 3:41:50to try and steal something from Mercedes.

3:41:50 > 3:41:52It'll be an interesting track, as well, for Red Bull.

3:41:52 > 3:41:55So often recently we've gone to circuits Red Bull say

3:41:55 > 3:41:59just won't suit them, and they've actually surprised themselves.

3:41:59 > 3:42:01They've got a very good chassis. The way it works,

3:42:01 > 3:42:04it should work in the middle sector, which is downforce relevant.

3:42:04 > 3:42:07Where they'll struggle is the first and third sector which is

3:42:07 > 3:42:10basically drag relevant, straight line speed, accelerations.

3:42:10 > 3:42:12That's never their strong point.

3:42:12 > 3:42:14But I think they'll be mixing in there,

3:42:14 > 3:42:17but for me, Force India's one you've got to keep an eye on.

3:42:17 > 3:42:20Nico Hulkenberg was ninth, little Max Verstappen was eighth,

3:42:20 > 3:42:22but I think it's Force India that's probably

3:42:22 > 3:42:25going to be charging up there, maybe sixth, seventh on the grid.

3:42:25 > 3:42:28I'm not sure if we should call him little Verstappen, I'm not sure

3:42:28 > 3:42:31- if we'll do that again!- I raced against his father, remember!

3:42:31 > 3:42:32So he's big Verstappen for me!

3:42:32 > 3:42:34You mentioned Nico Hulkenberg.

3:42:34 > 3:42:38In 2009 he had the fantastic pole position for Williams in

3:42:38 > 3:42:40changeable conditions, but he's great round this track.

3:42:40 > 3:42:42He is, and also he was leading

3:42:42 > 3:42:45that race before he had an incident at the first corner

3:42:45 > 3:42:47and I think he's in a position, and also Sergio Perez,

3:42:47 > 3:42:50where they've actually got quite a bit of confidence,

3:42:50 > 3:42:53Perez obviously coming from his home Grand Prix

3:42:53 > 3:42:55and his podium just a few races ago.

3:42:55 > 3:42:58Overall, they're a team that I think could deliver this weekend.

3:42:58 > 3:43:00We're talking about the contenders,

3:43:00 > 3:43:03but also we've got to talk about Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.

3:43:03 > 3:43:04It would be foolish not to.

3:43:04 > 3:43:08Nico Rosberg is determined to finish this season in style.

3:43:08 > 3:43:09Yes, he is, and he needs to

3:43:09 > 3:43:11because he needs to get his confidence back up

3:43:11 > 3:43:14and get his focus back for 2016.

3:43:14 > 3:43:16But on the other side of it,

3:43:16 > 3:43:18Lewis Hamilton has lifted off the throttle pedal a little bit

3:43:18 > 3:43:20in the last couple of Grands Prix.

3:43:20 > 3:43:23- And why was that?- Because he's won the World Championship.

3:43:23 > 3:43:25Because it's done and dusted for the season.

3:43:25 > 3:43:27Because he's got nothing more that he can win.

3:43:27 > 3:43:29Really, Lewis has got to be careful he doesn't allow

3:43:29 > 3:43:31too much momentum to go to Nico.

3:43:31 > 3:43:34Yeah, well, there's plenty more action coming up live on BBC Two,

3:43:34 > 3:43:37and you can join us for Free Practice 2.

3:43:37 > 3:43:40We're back at 3:45 this afternoon.

3:43:40 > 3:43:43We're standing in a cloudy paddock at the moment,

3:43:43 > 3:43:45but at least it's dry,

3:43:45 > 3:43:47but we're not expecting that this afternoon.

3:43:47 > 3:43:49This place changes at a click of the fingers.

3:43:49 > 3:43:51It could be thunderstorms, but don't miss a thing.

3:43:51 > 3:43:53Come and join us. See you in a couple of hours.

3:43:53 > 3:43:55Thanks very much. Bye-bye.