SAO PAULO, Brazil - The final round of the 2012 Formula One season at Interlagos, Brazil, was about as thrilling as a motor race could be. INFINITI Red Bull Racing driver, Sebastian Vettel was fighting for his third consecutive championship, and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was not far behind. And then the weather happened.
A wet track, battling drivers and a championship at stake - it was a high-octane mixture that had the famously passionate Brazilian fans on their feet, and millions of television viewers balancing on the very edges of their sofas. Vettel fought back from last position after a collision on the very first lap and took the points he needed to seal the championship deal. It was a 'scream at the screen' kind of race!
With both World Championship trophies well and truly delivered to the INFINITI Red Bull Racing silverware cabinet in Milton Keynes, it's now a battle for the best of the rest. With several drivers, including Vettel's teammate Mark Webber, all in with a chance of taking third position in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship - and Vettel himself absolutely always looking for another win and another record - all of the protagonists will undoubtedly be up for a final round fight. The racing could really go up a notch when it's all to play for those coveted runner up spots in the very last race of 2013. Hold tight folks, Brazil's coming!
Sebastian and Mark look ahead to Brazil
Sebastian Vettel, INFINITI Red Bull Racing
2012 Qualifying - 4th, 2012 Race - 6th
"This race is always crazy! It is actually a very short lap and it is quite difficult to overtake at Interlagos. The race is long at over 70 laps and it puts a lot of load on your neck because of the long left corners, so the centrifugal forces pull in an unfamiliar counter-clockwise direction."
Mark Webber, INFINITI Red Bull Racing
2012 Qualifying - 3rd, 2012 Race - 4th
"Interlagos is one of my favorite races. The atmosphere at the track is fantastic. The circuit sits in a bowl, giving it the feel of an amphitheater. It's like Brands Hatch in the UK where the crowd sits almost on top of the cars, and it results in a fantastic atmosphere on race day. The race has been good to me because I've won it twice (2009 and 2011) and I just enjoy being in Sao Paulo.
"The track is at a high altitude, so it's tough for the engines and the anti-clockwise direction makes it pretty physical for the drivers. There are more left-hand circuits at the back-end of the calendar than there used to be, so our necks are conditioned for them, but it's still a good workout.
"I feel ready for Brazil and am looking forward to a bit of a different chapter in the future. There would be something wrong if I was disappointed to be finishing, because that's the reason I've made my decision. As a sportsman or woman that's why we all make those decisions - because in the end the fire is not quite what it was, and you've got to accept that. So the time is good for me. One to go and we'll put on a very good performance; I believe I can do that in Brazil. I'm happy I'm still driving pretty well, making my mark so to speak, but I've had my time. I've enjoyed it and achieved a few things, so let the guys do their thing in the future."
Interlagos Circuit Guide
The racing history, heritage and passion all but oozes through the tarmac at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil. And when the thousands of Formula One-loving fans wrapping around the track get into full voice, the atmosphere picks up an electric charge. The first Grand Prix was held here in 1973, and there's been several Brazilian driver successes since - hence the locals' fondness for the place and the sport.
Located in the Interlagos neighborhood in the Socorro district of Sao Paulo, the area takes its name from Interlaken in Switzerland and basically means "an area in-between large bodies of water," or with Interlagos, two large reservoirs built to supply Sao Paulo. The track is now surrounded by houses, as the area has rapidly expanded since the twisty tarmac was first laid in 1938. This history and packed-in feel lends the place cathedral-like qualities.
Interlagos is certainly a classic track, built before the modern era of deep run-off areas, so the fans are that much closer and the atmosphere that much hotter. Two decent straights of almost equal length allow the racecars to open up, and there's a DRS zone on the second straight. The first straight is the start/finish and the corner complex that greets the drivers after the starting sprint is downhill, twisting and challenging. Watch out for overtake attempts and incidents here.
After these tight Turns 1 and 2, the track really opens up through Turns 3 to 7 - with the back straight between 3 and 4 - where the cars let loose their terrific V8 howls. After Turn 8, the corners get tougher, until Turns 13, 14 and 15 where Interlagos sweeps left in a stunning arc, challenging aero-grip and driver bravery. It's fast and flowing corners like these where Formula One cars really impress with their apex-hugging abilities.
Last year's Brazilian Grand Prix was a truly edge-of-the-seat event, and as Interlagos so effortlessly lends itself to such exciting racing, this season's final race is likely to be a wonderful carnival of competition befitting the host nation.
Key Track Statistics
Local start time: 14h00
Number of laps: 71
Circuit length: 4.309km
Race distance: 305.909km
Grand Prix debut: 1973
Lap record: Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams, 2004), 1:11.473
2012 Qualifying
1. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2. Jenson Button (McLaren)
3. Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
4. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Race Results
1. Jenson Button (McLaren)
2. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
3. Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
4. Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
6. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
About INFINITI
INFINITI Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with sales operations in approximately 50 countries. The INFINITI brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan and the United States. Production in China and Europe will start soon along with the expansion of the brand's portfolio.
As the Title Partner and Vehicle Performance Partner of INFINITI Red Bull Racing, INFINITI has a far-reaching technical collaboration with the Formula One team, and Sebastian Vettel, its four-time World Champion driver, serves as INFINITI's Director of Performance.
More information about INFINITI, its Total Ownership Experience® and its industry leading technologies can be found at www.infiniti.com. For the latest news on INFINITI, visit INFINITINews.com, "like" INFINITI on Facebook or follow the brand on Twitter @INFINITIUSA. For interesting content on INFINITI in Formula One visit: www.infiniti-gp.com, www.youtube.com/INFINITIGP or follow on Twitter @INFINITIGP.
About INFINITI in Formula One
INFINITI, the premium automotive brand, starts the 2013 season as Title Partner and Vehicle Performance Partner of INFINITI Red Bull Racing. With a deepened technical collaboration across people, process and technologies, an 'open door' approach is enabling both sides to access a pool of innovation, new technologies and R&D resources in the shared pursuit of precision and performance.
Since the partnership's inception in 2011 it has already seen the launch of the INFINITI FX Vettel Edition and product development input from Sebastian Vettel and test driver Sebastien Buemi for the all-new INFINITI Q50 premium sports saloon. INFINITI continues to be the most visible automotive brand in Formula One, and the deepened partnership will ensure closer alignment on an increasing number of future team collaborations.
For interesting content on INFINITI in Formula One visit: www.infiniti-gp.com, www.youtube.com/INFINITIGP or follow on Twitter @INFINITIGP.
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