Brazil: post-race analysis

Must be said this was not a classic. Not enthralling to watch, and not profitable either, with both McLarens being uncharacteristically reliable, and not even a crash to enliven proceedings. Bit disappointing, given the circuit.

Anyway, off the line Bottas shot up from 7^th to 5^th, but otherwise it was largely trouble-free (before the start, Sainz’s Toro Rosso stopped and he had to start from the pit lane).

Sainz’s engine then conked out on lap one.

And it pretty much stayed that way throughout.

There was some good defensive driving by Rosberg (though Hamilton seemed to give up near the end), and Hulkenberg, little seen, managed to keep Kvyat behind him after retaking the place by undercutting with an earlier pit stop. An impressive drive by the German and a good result to comprehensively beat his team mate after being overshadowed in recent races (must be said Interlagos is not Perez’s favourite track, but might be Hulkenberg’s).

Massa was a bit lonely and anonymous in 8^th. Grosjean rose through the field to get 9^th, and Max Verstappen, as impressive and entertaining as usual, did well to get 10^th.

The usual suspects of Rosberg, Hamilton and Vettel were on the podium, followed by Raikkonen and Bottas.

The McLarens were well-matched with the Saubers, and it’s a bit depressing to think that for the former team that’s actually a better than usual performance.

Rosberg thus secures 2^nd in the drivers’ title race, for what that’s worth, with Vettel 3^rd.

One more race left, in Abu Dhabi. Let’s hope it’s both more exciting and more profitable.

Morris Dancer