Brazil: pre-qualifying
Surprisingly, Marussia
has folded. Given they had tens of millions in prize money likely
coming for 2015 and even missing Brazil and Abu Dhabi they still had
a live entry for the next year I expected them to be a going concern
at the end of 2014. Given it was seen as the better bet compared to
Caterham it may be we’ll have 18 cars permanently next year.
Full story here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/29954250
This comes a day after
Christian Horner, principal of a team bankrolled by a billionaire,
opined that poorer teams shouldn’t speak publicly about money
troubles because it’s bad for the sport. Not a very impressive
statement.
In other news, Felipe
Nasr (pronounced Nassa) has been named as a Sauber driver. I’m sure
that won’t confuse commentators at all. He’s joined by Marcus
Ericsson, but Sutil, an incumbent of the team, has raised a contract
row, claiming he’ll still be driving for them next year. Gutierrez
hasn’t really impressed at any time, so it’s not surprising he’s
gone.
Perez and Hulkenberg
will remain at Force India next year. Good for them, and the team.
Interlagos is a great
circuit, perhaps my favourite. Short lap, but the race is very often
wet, so be sure to keep an eye on the sky for qualifying and race
day.
The tyres are soft and
medium.
In P1 Rosberg was
fastest, two-tenths ahead of his team mate. Hamilton was the better
part of a second ahead of Kvyat. Alonso, Massa, Verstappen,
Maldonado, Raikkonen, Magnussen and Ricciardo rounded out the top 10.
I wonder if Red Bull and Williams are sandbagging a bit. Mercedes
once again look in a league of their own.
P2 had a similar
headline, with Rosberg two-tenths ahead of Hamilton and Raikkonen
half a second off the German’s top time. Ricciardo, Bottas, and
Massa followed, with Alonso, Kvyat, Vettel and Magnussen rounding out
the top 10.
Rosberg was fastest
again in P3, but just by a tenth on Hamilton. Massa and Bottas were
next (Massa’s been good this weekend so far), then we had Ricciardo
and Button. Raikkonen, Alonso, Magnussen and Kvyat finished off the
top 10.
The forecasts are for
rain in qualifying. This will relatively help Red Bull, and also
Button and Hulkenberg (recall Hulkenberg was vying for the win in the
rain two years ago, and got pole for Williams about four years ago on
a wet-and-dry track).
However, rain was
forecast for P3, and the session was dry.
I was tempted by Massa
being top 3 in qualifying (3.15, Betfair) but if it rains I think
Ricciardo (Red Bull having superior downforce) might have the edge.
Rosberg’s only evens
or just over for pole, rather than the 3-3.5 he often is, so it’s
too short, as the pole will likely be a coin toss in the Mercedes
garage.
So, no bet.
Not sure if the
pre-race piece will be this evening or tomorrow morning.
Morris Dancer
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