F1: Brazilian Grand Prix, Race Predictions

The 2018 season is winding down but there is still a lot of action yet to be witnessed. If the qualifying session was the benchmark then we are in store for a proper battle for the race victory on Sunday. An added area of interest would remain the weather. If the skies open up, if only for a little while, it can have an impact on the race.

The two Sauber cars of Marcus Ericsson and Charles Leclerc, along with Romain Grosjean and Pierre Gasly reached Q3 and qualified behind drivers of the top three teams. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, snatched his tenth pole of the year and Sebastian Vettel would be filling out the front row with him.

A late shower during the second part of qualifying threatened to ruin the laps of everyone trying to improve their position on the time sheets. Despite the changing weather, Leclerc managed to better his previously set time and grab a spot in the top ten.

Let us have a look at the predictions for the Brazilian Grand Prix:

#5 Sluggish race for Renault

Renault had a lackluster qualifying where Carlos Sainz was eliminated after the first round and Nico Hülkenberg could go no further than Q2 either. They would be starting from P16 and P14 respectively, unless a grid penalty requires any changes.

Nico Hülkenberg suffered a crash during the second practice session, but the mechanics made it possible for him to participate in FP3. While he has scored his solo pole in Brazil back in 2010, Nico has never ended up higher than fifth during the Grand Prix.

Carlos Sainz, on the other hand, would have the advantage of tyre choices, not having participated in Q2, but the gain might be minimal during what is expected to be a one-stop race. Climbing up from 16th into the points can be a tough ask, but Carlos might just manage to do so with a longer stint on his first set of tyres.

A thirty point difference between Renault and the next immediate team in the constructors’ standings, Haas, does make for a comfortable cushion going into the last two races of the year. However, the French team would be hoping to wrap up the season with a strong result, nonetheless.

#4 A weekend to forget for Esteban Ocon

The Force India duo claimed twelfth and thirteenth positions with Esteban Ocon trailing teammate, Sergio Perez. Ocon has to further drop down the grid due to a five-place gearbox penalty.

Esteban had hopes of a better qualifying session on Friday, but the penalty put a damper on those ideas. The Frenchman would have to make his way up from the back of the grid in order to score any points during the race.

The 22-year-old finds himself without a seat, as of now, for next year and his options are quickly diminishing. Reminding the world of his talent before the season is done and dusted would help improve his chances.

To make matters interesting, Esteban is currently sat eleventh in the points table. He can easily jump ahead of a few drivers if he finishes in the top ten during the next two Grands Prix.

#3 Daniel Ricciardo finally finishes the race

The rotten luck that has befallen Daniel Ricciardo is not looking likely to let up. He would be enduring a five-place grid drop due to the marshals in Mexico spraying fire extinguisher into his Red Bull’s exhaust, requiring a turbocharger change.

The Australian has had a double non-finish since Japan, the number running up to eight overall. The tin foil hats have come out in large numbers, smelling foul play. However, the only thing that can be said for certain is that a change of fortune is needed for Daniel, and it is likely that Brazil might bring about just that.

The only two podium appearances by the Red Bull Racing driver this season have been during China and Monaco where he graced the top step. He has also lost out in the battle with his teammate, Max Verstappen, and is sitting in sixth when it comes to drivers’ standings, with a huge margin separating him from racers above and below him.

#2 Gasly in the points

Pierre Gasly snuck into the final part of qualifying and held onto P10. He looks likely to move up at least one spot due to Daniel Ricciardo’s penalty. The Frenchman has yet to score a point in Brazil but with his position on the starting grid this year, he might be able to manage it.

The other Toro Rosso of Brendon Hartley stuck to seventeenth place and it goes to show how well Gasly performed during the session. The 22-year-old is set to fill in a seat at the sister team of Red Bull Racing for the upcoming season and proving his mettle early on would help him immensely. Especially so with the rapid chopping and changing that has become common with the drivers for the Milton Keynes based outfit.

The Grand Prix at Interlagos would provide Pierre with an opportunity to also score a few points which would come in handy for him to move up the points table.

#1 Sebastian Vettel for the win

Sebastian Vettel looks geared up for taking on any driver for a victory at Brazil. He would start P2, unless a grid penalty for breaking the scales at the FIA weighbridge is awarded to him.

The pressure is off now that the drivers' championship has been decided and Vettel can look to enjoy the next two races without the competition lingering on his mind. The German is well adrift of third-placed, Kimi Räikkönen for his second place in the championship standings to come under threat.

Ferrari, on the other hand, still have a chance, albeit slim, to bridge the gap to their rivals, Mercedes for the constructors' trophy. They would be looking forward to a good result from both their drivers, especially with Sebastian starting on the front row.

The four-time world champion has previously secured wins at the circuit after starting second and he would be itching to emulate those performances. Even more so as his last victory of the year came back in Belgium.

Edited by Arvind Sriram