2008 Brazilian Grand Prix - Title Decider

[swca92]

No one will miss the current tyres,aerodynamics etc...I'd love to put them all in a massive bonfire and burn them to the ground for making F1 poorer.Anyway last year cars had nothing to lose,and still Ferrari won by a minute and Ferrari/Macca were way ahead of anyone else in the field,so I can't see that having too much of an effect in the race.

[Zack]

Massa: "Zero pressure"

"Over the past few years, I've got used to the idea of preparing for the final race of the season at home here in Sao Paolo and I'm making the most of it, as next year there will still be one more grand prix to go after the round at Interlagos. I came home immediately after the race in Shanghai, which was good from a team point of view as Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro picked up fourteen points and extended its lead in the Constructors', but from my perspective, the title race got even tougher, as Lewis won and so I have lost an additional two points.''

"In Shanghai, it was obvious right from Friday practice that McLaren were going to be very hard to beat. We saw they were very competitive, but you can never be completely sure what programme they are running, so it's best to concentrate on your own work, sorting out your own car and not start worrying about the opposition. Then on Saturday, we saw the trend continue and so we knew qualifying and the race would be tough. It's fair to say that our car, the F2008 has been inconsistent in terms of its performance: in some circumstances we are extremely competitive and at others a little bit less so. This is due to a variety of factors which you have to take into consideration, such as the track layout, the track surface and how the tyres are working. But if you look at the whole field, this is equally true of other teams. Look at our closest rivals for example: in China they were quicker, but in Singapore and Japan our race pace was much better. The problem is that we didn't get the most points at these races.''

"I know there have been comments about my overtaking Kimi in the final stages of the Shanghai race, but they have come from people who don't really understand how the sport works. It is a team sport and both me and Kimi know we have to do what is best for the team. For sure, psychologically a racing driver always wants to finish in front, always wants to win: it doesn't matter if you are playing a friend on a computer game or driving a Formula 1 car. But all drivers have a contract with their team and so you are not racing as an individual. When you are fighting for the championship, with only one driver with a mathematical chance of winning, then all the teams in the pit lane would do the same, which is to put that one driver in a position where he has the best chance of winning. That is part of this sport.''

"As for the final race, yes it's true I have a tougher job than Lewis in terms of the points situation, but my own objective for the weekend is much more straightforward than his. I only have to focus on winning the race on Sunday afternoon, hopefully with my team-mate second behind me. The only thing I am thinking about is winning. After that, the matter is not in my hands and we will have to wait and see exactly what and how much we have won.''

"Another plus for me is that I will have a huge following here in my home town. Brazilian people love Formula 1, love motor racing and it is really big passion for them. I really like to race at home and I think I race better at home. Do I need to say I'm very motivated?! I love this track, I grew up here and I know all its little tricks and secrets. I first raced here when I was eight years old in a go-kart, as the karting track is inside the circuit complex. The first time I actually raced on the proper circuit was in 1998 in a Formula Opel race, although I can't remember what position I finished. The track is not bumpy anymore as they did a great job on the surface last year. It's great to drive and over the weekend the atmosphere will be really special. The whole event is one of the best on the calendar in my opinion.''

"Since arriving in Brazil, I've been doing my usual physical preparation and spending time with my family, but on Monday, the build up to the race weekend starts with a lot of promotional events for sponsors. On Monday, I am going to visit a school in my role as an ambassador for UNICEF. I like doing this kind of work, because first of all, it's always nice to help people who really need it and secondly, I find it very motivating for myself. On Tuesday and Wednesday I have sponsor events, like the launch of the Ferrari California at the Sao Paulo Motor Show, then on Thursday morning, the traditional Shell press conference at the Transamerica Hotel before heading to the track for the real start of the weekend.''

"It is impossible to predict what will happen in the Brazilian Grand Prix, but I think our car has always been very good at this circuit, even if I cannot explain exactly why. We have always gone well here and I expect that to be the case at the weekend, whatever the conditions, in the dry or in the rain and in qualifying and in the race. For sure, Lewis will try and put pressure on me, but I have zero pressure, because I have nothing to lose. I have my people behind me and all the pressure will be on him, especially when you think about what happened at this race last year. I can't wait for the final Sunday of the season."

[Haukinen]

Massa? Zero pressure? Yeah right...

[hitman007]

I think massa is gonna win ...but i think that ferrari might bribe the other drivers like fernado or nick rosberg to block lewis ( till he becomes 6th place) all the way till the checkered flag...or someone fakes an accident with lewis which the FIA think that it's lewis's fault and he gets a drive through penalty....diabolical is in it =p
hehehehehhehheheh

[JoostLamers]

Forget it, Nico is a friend of Hamilton. And I have a question: Do you, Massa 'fans', really want to become champion in this way??? You are all saying now that Massa can't do it on his own, that's a pretty big sign of weakness!

[fclen]

Don't be so quick to assume they're a Massa fan. More than likely, most that have posted just don't like Hammy and/or Macca...

[Schumfs]

Why? Do you "Hamilton fan" like the way that your driver will take the championship?
In my opinion non of the drivers currently fighting for the championship deserves it.
Both Massa and Hamilton made terrible mistakes during the year.
Kubica was far more stable than Hamilton and Massa and he deserves better than what he will end with.

[HandoZiZle]

I think massa is gonna win ...but i think that ferrari might bribe the other drivers like fernado or nick rosberg to block lewis ( till he becomes 6th place) all the way till the checkered flag...or someone fakes an accident with lewis which the FIA think that it's lewis's fault and he gets a drive through penalty....diabolical is in it =p
hehehehehhehheheh

I hope you're not serious with this garbage.

[shailf1]

Why? Do you "Hamilton fan" like the way that your driver will take the championship?
In my opinion non of the drivers currently fighting for the championship deserves it.
Both Massa and Hamilton made terrible mistakes during the year.
Kubica was far more stable than Hamilton and Massa and he deserves better than what he will end with.

Well, how can you say kubica desrves the title more than hamilton and massa. He was consistent but he was not exceptionally fast. He was behind the ferrari mclaren everytime they did not have problems. You might say that its because of the car but its not the driver we are talking about, the driver and the car as a package. If we were talking about only drivers performance then Vettel deseves the title. But its not like that. At the end of the day its the points that count and whoever gets more point wins and having the highest points of any driver in a season which makes a driver deserve the title.

[ric.rios]

Anybody here goes to Interlagos?

[Schumfs]

Kubica is as excellent driver as Vettel is.
Whenever his car was fast he did whatever he could and he was constantly inside the points.
I can say Kubica deserves it more than the others and I justify it by saying that he was more stable than the others.
This is the one and only reason that I believe Kubica deserves it more than Massa and Hamilton.
In terms of points we see what's going on.
Its a different point of view, from a different angle if you want.

[Zack]

Src:AFCA
Domenicali on the upcoming weekend: ''I'm convinced that McLaren is in a similar situation to last year so I think we'll be up for a delicate weekend, not just from a competitive and technical point of view but also with regard to the mental and psychological aspects.''

On Massa: ''I've spoken with Massa today, he's absolutely calm. He knows that in order to win the title it's unfortunately not just him that has to do well, there should be circumstances that, let's say are a bit special. But it's worth trying till the end, also because - as we've seen last year - on many occasions the situations change at every moment. So we really have to believe in it and work well up to the last corner.''

On the title rival: ''Hamilton is certainly a great driver, he has shown that in these two years, he's made progress. But I have to say that we don't underestimate (him), instead we have to emphasize what Felipe has done because he's done a great championship in difficult conditions. So in the end we'll make up the balance.''

On the future regulations: ''I think this is certainly an important moment for Formula 1 because we have to look ahead, not just reaching an agreement, even if the various teams naturally have different interests, but together with the FIA we really have to create a basis for a Formula 1 that is aware of the (financial) problems in the world. It's certainly a critical and difficult phase, but definately a very stimulating one also. On the other hand it's certainly an historic moment because there has never been an agreement between all the teams and our homework, also Ferrari's homework, is to try and maintain this balance, protecting the political aspects and fighting our competitors on track corner after corner.''

[raikks]

Anybody here goes to Interlagos?

Dude -- I'd give everything

[phil1993]

1 week to go

[iceman1]

Pictures from last year : http://www.f1zone.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1810