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It seems that an insult acted as a love potion that perhaps dragged him down from the podium more than the maneuver with Ricciardo did. The two apology letters that Vettel sent to the addressed Charlie Whiting and the FIA served as a lifeline: no fine, no disqualification for a Grand Prix. However, the Federation warns him: never again such behavior.
"The moment now is frustrating for Vettel, but I think before coming, he knew that the Ferrari challenge was difficult. And I believe it's one of the reasons why he agreed to go there. He joined Ferrari because after winning many championships, he was looking for a new challenge, a new step in his already significant career. Now it's a tough period, but why go to Ferrari if he wasn't looking for a challenge? Well, he found it".
These are the words of Ross Brawn, the former technical director of Ferrari from 1996 to 2006.
"Making comparisons between Vettel and Schumacher in Ferrari is neither correct nor possible. Sebastian is a great driver and a very intelligent person. I'm sure that when he went to Ferrari, he thought about what Michael had done there and tried to be inspired by it, to have a similar approach. In the last races, we've seen him nervous, which is a good thing because it shows that he cares about what he's doing. Furthermore, he has never criticized the team, which would have been a really bad attitude. On the contrary, I imagine Sebastian is working hard with the whole team to create the right atmosphere to work at their best".
The former technical director of Ferrari also talks about the current difficulties of the Maranello team.
"The last few years haven't been easy for Ferrari. I believe the crucial thing for them now is stability. There are really talented people in the team who work with the right support and the right philosophy. Of course, there have always been pressures and expectations around Ferrari, especially from the media. We need to find a way to protect the engineers and all the other technicians so that they can focus and work at their best. I don't know the internal dynamics of the team, but we all know that to improve the situation, a couple of good results in this final part of the season would be enough. Winning one or both of the season-ending races would completely reverse the judgment on the year. Next year will be very interesting. New rules mean new opportunities for everyone; let's see what it brings".
Another former figure speaks about Ferrari. In an interview, Fernando Alonso declares:
"I always want the best for Ferrari, but I knew that they wouldn't win in 2015 and 2016, and that's why I accepted the proposal from McLaren-Honda".
According to the Spaniard's opinion, during his time driving for Maranello:
"We achieved results that are dreamed of today".
In 2012 and 2013, Alonso finished second in the championship.
"If I didn't think McLaren could win a title, I wouldn't be here".
And regarding who could be the stars of the future, Fernando Alonso names Carlos Sainz Jr. and Max Verstappen.
"Interlagos? Difficult to give 100%".
Kimi Raikkonen's word. The Brazilian Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the Formula 1 World Championship scheduled for Sunday, November 13, 2016, is also the penultimate opportunity for Ferrari not to close the season without victories. Although the track doesn't seem to appeal much to the Finnish driver:
"Interlagos is a different circuit from the usual, one of the few that goes counterclockwise. A lap is short, and there aren't many turns, but it's difficult to set a good time, and the times are always close: losing a tenth here is equivalent to many positions on the grid".
Yet, it was on this track in 2007 that Raikkonen celebrated the victory of the World Championship with Ferrari. Perhaps for this reason, he allows himself a positive comment:
"It's still a nice place to race".
Certainly, there are some criticisms, and Kimi doesn't hesitate to point them out:
"The track is often resurfaced, and while everything is fine at the beginning, year after year, it becomes uneven and more challenging. Now they have changed the curbs a bit, and therefore, the lap pace as well. In the end, the track itself is not too complicated, but it's always difficult to find 100% performance".
But what interests the public more is the battle for the World Championship victory. In this regard, Nico Rosberg sees the finish line. Not of an exhausting season, but of a lifetime. The German driver for Mercedes talks about his rivalry with Lewis Hamilton, the only driver still in the running for the Formula 1 World Champion title:
"Challenges with Lewis began when we were only 13, and I still remember the battles between us in various championships. I feel he has been my rival throughout my career, starting from our karting days".
During an event for one of his sponsors in Sao Paulo on November 9, 2016, Nico Rosberg makes an important revelation to his fans, confirming that beating the Englishman has been a lifelong goal. In the Brazilian Grand Prix, the German driver for Mercedes will try to settle the score with history: if he wins and Lewis Hamilton finishes third, he would become World Champion for the first time. Rosberg has 349 points, compared to the British driver's 330. The German also revealed an interesting behind-the-scenes story:
"I can't forget that moment when we were on vacation, I believe it was in 2000, and we were sitting at the restaurant just the two of us. We started talking, and I told him it would be great if we both found ourselves in the best Formula One team, competing for the title".
A prophecy fulfilled:
"This happened sixteen years ago, and now, for three years, we've been in the best team and competing for the title. So, it really happened, and I think it's an incredible story".
The driver, a known polyglot, wants questions to be asked in Portuguese and responds in the same language.
"I'm very fortunate to be able to experience a moment like this".
Nico Rosberg further talks about the approaching title, thanking his closest people:
"My family has helped me a lot because private life always interacts with the sports one. If I have a bad day, then I go home, and I feel better, and I become happy again. Certainly, this helps me".
The German concludes by paying tribute to Brazil:
"I'm sorry that Felipe Massa is leaving after this championship. He was a great driver, and I hope Brazil finds another one like him soon. Felipe has been involved in incredible duels, like those with Hamilton in 2008".
The next day, on November 10, 2016, during the Formula 1 drivers' press conference on the eve of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel says:
"The Brazil Grand Prix has always been a special place for me; the races have always been exciting. It's the atmosphere, the weather conditions - always crazy races. I'm sure Sunday will be a good race; we're not fighting for the World Championship, but we'll try to fight for the win".
Coming off a disappointing season, the German driver expresses confidence in his future with Ferrari:
"Yes, because I'm always optimistic. It was a good step forward to decide to change teams two years ago. Last season was good, expectations were high for this one, but we still need to achieve the goal of competing for the World Championship. There have been changes that make me confident; it's just a matter of time".
Vettel then talks about the penalty he received in the Mexican Grand Prix after the hectic finale with Red Bull's Ricciardo and Verstappen.
"I disagree with the decision made; I believe I defended my position, and I think Ricciardo had enough space to overtake. I didn't change direction during braking; I don't think it was a dangerous maneuver, but of course, I have to accept the decision. I regret what I said after the race; I apologized. I'm glad they were accepted. When you're in the heat of battle and adrenaline is high, you always try everything".
Regarding the Mexican Grand Prix's ending, it seems peace has been restored between Charlie Whiting and Sebastian Vettel after the driver used unflattering words towards the race director. Charlie Whiting says:
"It's not the first time we hear foul language during races. That it was directed at me was an unfortunate situation that can be mitigated by Sebastian's frustration. But the fact that he wanted to meet me right after the race and apologize was important, and I'm ready to forget what happened. I think his apologies are sufficient".
On his part, the German driver adds:
"I regret what I said, but you're in a race, you're fighting, and everyone can understand why I wasn't happy. At that moment, I didn't mean to say those things, and it was obvious to seek Charlie afterward to apologize and write him a letter, and I'm glad he accepted them. Now, let's move on".
Ferrari disagrees. Two weeks later, it appeals to the FIA to review the decision that, at the end of the Mexican Grand Prix, demoted Sebastian Vettel from third to fifth place. The team led by Maurizio Arrivabene submits a request to the race stewards of the Mexican Grand Prix to reconsider their decision to penalize Sebastian Vettel for a violation of Article 27.5 of the F1 2016 Sporting Regulations, resulting from his on-track conduct at turn 4 on lap 70.
"This is the first time that Article 27.5 of the F1 2016 Sporting Regulations has been applied based on the interpretation provided by the race director's notes on defensive maneuvers that came into effect from the United States Grand Prix".
Essentially, Scuderia Ferrari believes that numerous new elements have emerged after the decision was issued, enough to reconsider the judgment. Even if they were to be correct, the race result wouldn't change:
"Scuderia Ferrari is aware that, regardless of the outcome of the request, the championship standings will not change. But considering its importance as a precedent for the future and to provide clarity in the application of the rules in upcoming events, Scuderia Ferrari believes this decision should be reviewed by the stewards".
While waiting for the response from the race commissioners of the Mexican Grand Prix, discussions about Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel continue. In fact, some talk about a completed change, others about a nerve crisis triggered by too many frustrations, and some even tell of an unexpected chill that froze relations with President Sergio Marchionne. Whoever is right, the certain fact is that the honeymoon between Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari is over, and the renewal of the contract, expiring in 2017, seems more distant than ever. To have proof that the Vettel case is about to explode, in Maranello, just listen to the team radio of the last Grand Prix, that of Mexico. Already from Friday, when the drivers are far from the 180 beats per minute regime and there is really little adrenaline circulating, the German seems out of control, insulting Alonso and the young talent of Red Bull, Max Verstappen. It was the beginning of a coprolalic delirium whose climax, on Sunday, culminated in the spectacular insult directed at the race director, Charlie Whiting. The unsettling behavior of Vettel (who had won over Italian fans by using team radio wisely, like when he sang Toto Cutugno at the end of the race) had a double effect. On the one hand, it forced the circus to question the lexical hygiene of its internal communications, with Max Verstappen proposing to solve the problem by censoring team radios:
"After all, at 300 km/h and with all that pressure, it's inevitable that someone says certain things. Imagine what would happen if you put microphones on football players...".
On the other hand, it ended up shining a spotlight on the state of internal relations at Ferrari. Reliable news from Germany tells of a Sebastian Vettel who did not appreciate at all the statements made by Maurizio Arrivabene in Japan, at the beginning of October. After spending months portraying Vettel as the man of providence, the team principal took a clear step back, explaining that the renewal of Sebastian was not on the agenda:
"Vettel is not one of the problems, but he is not the solution either. He is a person who gives a lot, and his giving a lot sometimes means being interested in a bit of everything, so he needs to be taken back and focused on the main job he has to do".
The lack of clarity about the renewal is seen by Vettel as a lack of trust. A lack that, moreover, is beginning to be reciprocated: the organizational upheaval this summer, following the departure of technical director James Allison, did not please the German very much, who - also reading the extraordinarily cautious words spoken by Sergio Marchionne to market analysts - understood that the next season will also be a transition season, in the best-case scenario similar to that of 2015. And that, in short, staying at Ferrari, competing for the world title might be talked about, with a bit of luck, in 2018. The impression is that an entire season, the third away from the top, could be really too long, both for Ferrari and for Sebastian Vettel. Meanwhile, the weekend starts well for Lewis Hamilton, who on Friday, November 11, 2016, is the fastest at the end of the first free practice session of the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos circuit. Behind the British, for the moment, are Max Verstappen and Nico Rosberg. The Ferrari of Vettel is only ninth, with Raikkonen tenth. The British driver for Mercedes completes the lap in 1'11"895, followed by the Red Bull of Max Verstappen and the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg. Fourth time for the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo, fifth for the Williams of Valtteri Bottas, sixth for the Force India of Sergio Perez, followed by his teammate, Nico Hulkenberg. Eighth is the Williams of Felipe Massa. Only ninth position for the first of the Ferraris, that of Sebastian Vettel, author of a spin without consequences in the last minutes of practice, the German lap in 1'13"567; tenth is the other Ferrari, that of Kimi Raikkonen, with a time of 1’13”569. In the second practice session, Lewis Hamilton again sets the fastest time, this time ahead of his teammate, Nico Rosberg. The two Mercedes drivers set their best time using Supersoft tires and prove to be competitive even in the race simulation. Unlike the morning session, with a much warmer track, the two Williams of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa rise to third and fourth place: the English cars are less performing in the race simulation. The Red Bull drivers precede those of Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel, on the other hand, sees part of his aerodynamics detach after riding a curb, while Kimi Räikkönen highlights overheating of a brake caliper due to a tear-off visor that got stuck in the cooling duct. Problems with the ERS on Fernando Alonso's McLaren. At the end of the session, Kimi Räikkönen is cleared by the stewards for overtaking Carlos Sainz Jr. and cutting the trajectory to return to the pits. The judges consider the maneuver not dangerous. At the end of the tests, the Finnish driver of Ferrari says:
"We have had some difficulties in finding a good setup; we are still working on it, but we are heading in the right direction. I only did a few laps with the Soft tire; it behaved quite well and, obviously, has more grip than the other compounds. Unfortunately, at the end of the second session, we had a problem with a visor that blocked the cooling duct: the brakes overheated, and I was forced to stop. It was a normal Friday; we tried different things to improve for tomorrow".
Meanwhile, from Sao Paulo comes the news that Mexican driver Esteban Gutierrez will leave the Haas team at the end of the season.
"I will not continue with Haas next year. I hope to share my future choices with the fans as soon as possible".
Gutierrez, 25 years old, entered Formula 1 in 2013, racing for Sauber for two years, and in 2016, he was an official Haas driver. This season, the Mexican driver has not collected any points in the driver's standings, while his teammate, Frenchman Romain Grosjean, has earned 29. The favorite to replace Esteban Gutierrez at Haas is Danish driver Kevin Magnussen, who currently races for Renault.
"I want to clarify what I said in Japan: Sebastian and I have a fantastic and honest relationship".
The relationship between Vettel and Ferrari is at an all-time low, and Maurizio Arrivabene is trying to mend things by revisiting the words spoken a month earlier ("Vettel sometimes does too much, and sometimes he needs to be refocused on the work he has to do"), which were not appreciated by the driver, who has appeared more than a little nervous since then.
"In Japan, I said that Vettel is a generous guy who puts everything into what he does, with passion and dedication. Sometimes this attitude, especially in difficult moments, leads to excesses, and it is part of my job to tell him: Come on Seb, lower your head and keep pushing. As happened, for example, over the radio in Mexico".
Words spoken with an evident relaxing intent, but they are unlikely to produce the desired effect. The barometer continues to indicate low pressure, and the German is described as increasingly less enthusiastic about what is happening in Maranello. The car (now full of parts for the next season) continues to be uncompetitive.
"I expected a bit more; the car is so and so... We hoped to be in a better position".
But the problem is that the prospects for the next season are realistically modest, as the Ferrari president, Sergio Marchionne, said with extraordinary sincerity a few days before the Brazilian Grand Prix to market analysts. Arriving in Maranello in 2015 to repeat the path of his idol, Sebastian Vettel is realizing that the road is uphill. Even Michael Schumacher took a few years before competing for the world title. But he, from the early days, found himself working within an organized Ferrari, with a clear project and an unlimited budget that allowed him to raid the market for the best technicians. In contrast, Vettel has always complained about chronic disorganization (inevitably exacerbated by continuous internal revolutions) and, as if that were not enough, has understood that from now on, Marchionne has no intention of going mad in terms of investments.
"Until today, I've thrown away all the money I could in Formula 1. And so did others in the past. Instead, we need to use funds better, which didn't happen the way the structure was organized".
A clear speech alluding to a new phase of rationalization. Common-sense words that certainly don't warm the hearts of those who hoped to arrive in a Ferrari and chase the Mercedes team, capable of limitless investments. Vettel's reasoning is equally valid: without money, it's difficult to convince the best technicians (already reluctant) to move to Maranello. And without technicians, dreams of glory bid farewell. But the worst part is that Vettel's concerns perfectly align with those of Marchionne. After getting burned by announcing a winning Ferrari in Australia, the president realized that F1 is a more hostile environment than he had imagined. Therefore, before renewing a costly contract like Vettel's, it's wiser to understand where things stand. And to do that, we must wait for the early stages of the next season. In this case, waiting to see how the situation develops, the third free practice session, held on Saturday morning, begins with light rain. However, it doesn't force the drivers to switch to wet tires. Nico Rosberg is the fastest, narrowly beating his teammate Lewis Hamilton. Sebastian Vettel takes the third position, trailing his compatriot by 0.2 seconds. Ferrari takes advantage of the opportunity to work in the evening hours to adjust the setup of its cars. Behind the two Maranello cars in the time rankings are the two Red Bull Racing cars, which set the best times in the initial phase of the session. Technical issues plague Jenson Button's car, and, especially, Marcus Ericsson's car, which essentially completes only the installation lap. Based on the data collected in the Friday sessions, Pirelli decides to reduce the pressure of the rear tires. At the end of the practice, Mercedes is allowed to move the parking space for the cars to avoid a depression in the pit lane. A few hours later, the qualifying session takes place on a dry track. In the early moments of the first session, the two Mercedes cars hit the track to ensure passage to the next phase. Lewis Hamilton leads Nico Rosberg by 0.3 seconds. Only Max Verstappen, in addition to the two drivers of the Anglo-German team, records a time below 1'12"0. Eliminated at the end of the session are the two Manor cars, the two Sauber cars, Jenson Button, and Kevin Magnussen. In the second phase, a light rain falls on the circuit, but it doesn't affect the drivers' performance. To avoid weather-related issues, once again, the two Mercedes drivers immediately hit the track. In Q2, Hamilton again outpaces Rosberg, and Verstappen secures the third time.
The battle for passage to the decisive phase intensifies in the final moments, and, in the end, Toro Rosso drivers, Williams drivers, Jolyon Palmer, and Esteban Gutiérrez are eliminated. In Q3, Lewis Hamilton sets the fastest time, while Nico Rosberg, quick in the first two sectors, remains 0.15 seconds behind. Max Verstappen is third, ahead of Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, and Kimi Räikkönen. With the second attempt, both Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton improve, but the Briton maintains the top position. Behind, however, Kimi Räikkönen climbs to third place. Lewis Hamilton thus secures the 60th pole position of his career. With this result, the British driver mathematically wins the FIA Pole Trophy. At the end of the qualifying, Esteban Ocon is penalized with a three-position grid penalty for obstructing Jolyon Palmer during the first phase of the qualifying. The Frenchman (who loses two points on the super license) qualifies in 20th place, starting 22nd and last. A very strong blow delivered at the decisive moment of the season suddenly puts all the pressure on Nico Rosberg's shoulders. Lewis Hamilton secures pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix, while Nico Rosberg, just a tenth of a second slower, will start behind him. From a narrative perspective, the qualifiers can be considered a small masterpiece. Because they perfectly reverse the roles for the race. Lewis, the chaser in the overall standings, will start ahead. Nico, the pursued, will have to chase his rival and overtake him if he wants to avoid going to the last race in Abu Dhabi with just a handful of points. Currently, there are 19 points to defend the German from Hamilton's aggressiveness. That may be a lot, but it may also be very few. What happens behind the two Mercedes drivers is now just a detail. Ferrari and Red Bull try not to look bad, even though they have nothing more to ask from the season, and in their own way, they succeed. In particular, at Ferrari, Raikkonen performs better than Vettel: the German, who had some issues with the car before the start of the session, makes a few too many driving errors, confirming a not-so-serene moment. Bad news for Ferrari comes from off the track. The Maranello team, which two days earlier had filed an odd appeal - out of time and with no hope of changing the result obtained - against the FIA's decision to demote Vettel from third to fifth place at the end of the Mexican Grand Prix, has to register a harsh defeat. The Federation, after a relatively brief meeting with the parties involved via conference call, rejects the appeal, stating that no new elements have emerged (as Ferrari claimed) that would significantly change the scenario.
The Maranello team, with an equally unusual move, decides to appeal against this decision: the FIA and Ferrari will find themselves against each other in Paris. Vettel had been penalized for changing trajectory during braking while defending against Ricciardo's attack. According to Ferrari, today, the GPS data proves the opposite. It must be said that the move by the team led by Maurizio Arrivabene surprised everyone in the paddock: even if they were to win, the result of Mexico is unlikely to be reinstated, so it all resolves into a kind of matter of principle, albeit a bit late. But in Formula 1, no one moves driven by matters of principle, so it remains to be seen what led Ferrari to a face-off with the almost certain negative outcome against the FIA. The most popular theory is that it's a message to the navigators at a time when Charlie Whiting's decisions, the race director, seemed a bit too influenced by events: from today, Ferrari won't let anything slide. But there's also a small scandal that suddenly ignites the eve of the most important race of the season in Brazil, the one in which Nico Rosberg will have to defend his 19-point lead in the standings from Lewis Hamilton's assault. Demonstrating that he feels the pressure that must now be unbearable at Mercedes, Toto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes dominating the World Championship for three seasons, literally lost his mind and let himself go to a gesture that outraged the entire paddock: on Friday night, he called Max Verstappen's father, Jos, to suggest to his son to move aside in case, at some point in the race, the restless golden boy of Red Bull found himself too close to the two title contenders. A bit of context, to understand well. Since bursting onto the F1 scene, Verstappen has captured the attention of the general public thanks to an aggressive driving style bordering on recklessness. The Circus has split in two: on one side, those who consider him a destined talent, on the other, those who say you don't drive like that, that respect for the rules comes first. In fact, the Dutchman has made contact with half the grid, arguing with everyone (especially with the two Ferrari drivers, but that's a detail). A spectacular behavior that terrifies Toto Wolff, who arrived amid a thousand controversies (Hamilton has never hidden his suspicions about certain favors from Mercedes to his colleague) at the crucial race. Hence, the intervention, incredibly recounted by Wolff himself:
"Max appeals to me, but he needs to be very careful, especially in these crucial races. Unfortunately, Jos is the only one Max listens to: there is a negative atmosphere around him, and an incident that sidelines Lewis or Nico on Sunday would be really detrimental to his image. Just imagine the backlash if he had taken out Rosberg in Mexico…".
Words doubly clumsy. Why? Because they fuel the suspicion - now legitimate - that Wolff wants to favor Rosberg: it's clear that one of the two Mercedes drivers will win the championship, so for Wolff, a potential incident, with Hamilton being the only one to benefit, should be little more than a minor inconvenience. But above all, because they trample on the sporting spirit that governs this very Anglo-Saxon sport. Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing's consultant, says:
"Mr. Wolff's attitude is intolerable and inexcusable. We are not a team of backmarkers who step aside. Trying to manipulate a driver by calling his father is a sordid move..."
On Sunday night, we will know if the move has had an effect. Lewis Hamilton will start in pole position, Nico Rosberg behind him. Max Verstappen will start fourth, behind Kimi Raikkonen. Nico Rosberg's best ally. On Sunday, November 13, 2016, during the formation lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Romain Grosjean's Haas crashed into the barriers. The start was delayed by ten minutes, and the race began under the safety car due to rain and poor visibility. After seven laps, the actual race started with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg maintaining their positions at the front. Max Verstappen overtook Kimi Räikkönen to take third place. Sebastian Vettel spun and pitted for a tire change, switching to intermediates and dropping in the standings. Some drivers, like Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button, pitted for intermediate wet tires. Three laps later, Marcus Ericsson's Sauber crashed, closing the pit lane (where Daniel Ricciardo would later receive a penalty for entering despite the closure) and prompting another safety car period. Upon restart, Felipe Massa overtook Esteban Gutiérrez before the finish line, but Massa received a five-second penalty during his pit stop. The leaderboard still showed Lewis Hamilton in the lead, followed by Nico Rosberg, Kimi Räikkönen, Max Verstappen, who also switched to new tires, and intermediate wet conditions. The two Force India cars followed, then Carlos Sainz Jr., Felipe Nasr, and Daniel Ricciardo. On lap 20, as the race resumed, Kimi Räikkönen lost control on the main straight, causing a spin and almost getting hit by oncoming cars. This incident led to the first red flag during the Grand Prix. The race restarted from lap 21 (with all drivers mandated to use extreme wet tires), and Lewis Hamilton continued to lead.
The order remained unchanged, except for the Ferrari driver from Finland, who retired from the race, and Nico Hülkenberg, who changed tires again due to a puncture. The race was red-flagged again on lap 28 due to heavy rain. Daniil Kvyat retired after being hit by Jolyon Palmer under the safety car. After about 35 minutes of interruption, the race resumed. On lap 32, Max Verstappen overtook Nico Rosberg, securing the second position. A few laps later, Verstappen lost control but managed to avoid a spin and defend against Rosberg's attack. On lap 40, Daniel Ricciardo pitted for new tires, serving a 5-second penalty for entering the pit lane when it was closed after Marcus Ericsson's incident. Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel continued his comeback, passing Fernando Alonso and Felipe Nasr to claim sixth place. Max Verstappen pitted for intermediates, dropping to fifth, ahead of Vettel. On lap 50, the safety car returned to the track, this time due to Felipe Massa's crash. On lap 54, Verstappen pitted again, this time for wet tires, rejoining in eleventh place. In the remaining 16 laps, the Dutch driver made a remarkable comeback, finishing third after several overtakes, including those on Vettel and Pérez, who had to relinquish the final podium spot on the penultimate lap despite putting up a strong resistance on the outside. In the meantime, Vettel overtook Sainz Jr., securing fifth place. There were no further surprises until the finish line. Lewis Hamilton won the Brazilian Grand Prix, surpassing Prost in the all-time victory standings in the World Championship and keeping alive the hope of winning the championship, which would be decided in the final race at the Abu Dhabi circuit. Hamilton said at the end of the race:
"Not bad, right? First of all, I want to thank all the fans here at the circuit. It was an incredibly long race, and they stayed in the rain until the end. Thanks to the Brazilians for all their support; they are always the most welcoming in the world, very kind. For me, when it rains, it's always a good day. But today was tough for everyone because there were many aquaplaning situations. Thanks to the team, we're making history this year. It's incredible, and I'm really proud. But there were no spins; I didn't have major issues. In fact, I saw other people behind me having much bigger problems. I'll continue to do what I've been doing so far. The team gave me an incredible car, and the results are proving it. I'll give my best; usually, Yas Marina is a good circuit for me. Now I enjoy the moment because my dream since I started racing was to win here in Brazil. This victory was actually one of the easiest: a fairly straightforward race. It's always difficult when it rains, but I didn't have any critical moments, and it went quite smoothly".
While Nico Rosberg admits:
"Today, I couldn't do what I wanted; Lewis did a great job. The conditions were really difficult out there. Let's say I'm content with the second position. I think the red flags were correct. They made the right decisions, but it was a really complicated situation".
This Brazilian Grand Prix will go down in Formula 1 history for two reasons: first, it reopens the title fight significantly ahead of the final challenge in Abu Dhabi. But above all, it definitively certifies what many had already understood. That is, the star of Max Verstappen is destined to enter the legend of this sport. An alien has arrived in Formula 1. He's 19 years old, wears braces, and, after what was seen on the track at Interlagos, can confidently be called the world's strongest driver. No one in Formula 1 has his pace, aggression, or total, fierce, reckless lack of inhibitions. The phone call pushing for race-fixing from the Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, to Max Verstappen's dad to suggest his son not interfere with the title fight evidently had the opposite result of firing up the young Dutch driver. For his part, Nico Rosberg was very good at keeping his calm. A choice that paid off since the Red Bull engineers would soon decide to ruin his protege's race by unnecessarily changing his tires a couple of times more than the competition. His race was formidable, fantastic overtakes on Raikkonen, Rosberg, and Vettel, thrilling comebacks (from thirteenth to third in ten laps, at times he seemed like Senna with the Toleman at Monte-Carlo in 1984), even his mistakes were emotional. He uses the recklessness of his 19 years like a cannon against his opponents, and the impression is that where others see only dangers, he sees bright opportunities.
Interlagos offers Formula 1, at its decisive race, the most suggestive scenario: a wet track on the edge of practicability (at the start, at least in three corners, visibility is zero) and a scenario - between clouds, water, and adrenaline - like a nightmare. The race management initially chooses the cautious line and opts for a delayed start behind the safety car. The controlled-speed laps are a disappointment for the audience, which has always preferred the drama of standing starts, but especially an agony for the drivers, especially the two from Mercedes who are fighting for the championship victory. The radios are hot. The teams keep asking for information about the track and returning recommendations for calm and invitations to caution. A few seconds after the checkered flag, the paddock is already split in two. On one side, there are those who consider the race at Interlagos madness, dangerous and plagued by too many interruptions; on the other side, those who define it as the most beautiful of the season. That it would end like this was already clear during the first laps when the drivers, via radio, tried to influence the race director, the Englishman Charlie Whiting, to whom it fell, from incident to incident, to decide whether or not to interrupt the race. The driver who most clearly requested the interruption of the Grand Prix was Sebastian Vettel.
"You can't go on like this; I almost hit Kimi head-on in the middle of the straight; you can't see anything".
Raikkonen's car had just collided with the fence wall and skidded like a soap thrown onto a steel plate from the opposite side of the straight. The situation was at least suggestive: in at least two curves, the pewter sky merged with the asphalt, producing the effect of completely zeroing visibility. In other points, the trajectories were almost all crossed by small sudden streams. Stormy rivulets where Grosjean had foundered, going off track during the reconnaissance lap. Vettel, therefore, was not alone. Even Nasr ("it's undriveable out here") suggested to Whiting to stop the race. And perhaps with some reason. However, the race director's decision was not so easy to make. In F1, the 75% rule applies. That is, if the cars do not complete at least 75% of the scheduled laps, the drivers are awarded half the points: 12.5 instead of 25 points for the first, 9 instead of 18 for the second, and so on. This, with a world title still to be awarded and only one race left, would have been equivalent to awarding the title directly to Nico Rosberg, who could afford even a comfortable fifth position in Abu Dhabi. That's why poor Whiting held firm, resisting the pressure from those who wanted to go home. The game was crystal clear during lap 53 (75% was reached at lap 54) when Rosberg, pursued by Verstappen, who at that moment seemed to have an edge, indulged in a kind of moral blackmail:
"How many incidents do they want to see? What are they waiting for to stop the race? We can't go on like this".
In reality, the conditions were improving, and in the end, poor Whiting was right. As admitted by Rosberg himself once the adrenaline had subsided.
"Unfortunately, I couldn't do what I wanted. Lewis was great, but it was very difficult here. I had a complicated moment halfway through the race, but I was lucky, and it went well. I think the Race Direction did a great job".
It took the blessed water of Interlagos, pouring down heavily all day from a sky full of symbols and promises, for everyone to finally understand. It took a Brazilian day without samba, soaked and windy, one of those days when loves end or begin, for everyone to realize what is happening in that tiny corner of reality that is the world of racing. And now it's clear to everyone. A new legend is emerging in Formula 1. The legend of Max Verstappen. The new Ayrton Senna. The child born to go faster than others and perhaps to save a sport that had lost itself in a crowd of autopilot drivers. The elements were already there before Sunday's baptismal race. Only the most sensitive had caught them. The first, as usual, was Bernie Ecclestone. The boss did everything to pave the way for this Belgian-born Dutch driver. He was a known and pimply minor in 2014; he didn't even have a driver's license, there were problems with the pilot's license, and he, all-powerful, solved them. And now, with the enthusiastic contribution of the new sponsor, Heineken, coincidentally Dutch, he prepares to count the river of money coming in. The second, well prompted by the former driver and talent scout, Helmut Marko, was Dietrich Mateschitz, that is, Mr. Red Bull, the man who discovered taurine (a mixture of nothing and marketing) and built an empire on it. It was he who explained to the world in May why he evicted Daniil Kvyat mid-season to make way for Max Verstappen:
"Because he's good, while the other is the new Senna".
Everyone laughed. Of course, experts did not underestimate the talent of the kid, but Senna...
"He has the same talent, the same mental strength, the same courage".
Mateschitz insisted.
"Yes, of course, but Senna..."
The experts replied. The most stubborn in denying Verstappen's talent were the Italian fans. Max led the resurrection of Red Bull, the antagonist of Ferrari this season, and clashed with Ferrari drivers several times. They often reacted badly, and fans focused on the usual finger instead of admiring the rising star and his very visible brilliance. Then came the deluge in Sao Paulo and the incredible final eleven laps in which Max devoured asphalt, rain, and opponents, climbing a dozen positions and finishing on the podium. A feat accomplished with extraordinary personality, drawing wide and bizarre trajectories, never seen before, revolutionary, invented on the spot by an inspired driving genius. Max was on the track, born in Hasselt, Belgium, in 1997, but the older ones saw Ayrton, born right here in Sao Paulo, in 1960. Collective hallucination, mirage, precognition. There was Red Bull, but you could see the innocence of the white Toleman with the Candy logo that made the whole world fall in love, on another rainy day in Monaco, 1984. Mateschitz was right. Just like Senna, or perhaps even more than Senna, Verstappen has the mark of the predestined: born to a pilot father and a karting mother, he has been winning since he was four and a half years old. Like Senna, he has never shown any reverential fear:
"Vettel is a ridiculous and frustrated idiot who swears on the radio".
He declared after the controversies that arose in Spa, in the summer. Like Senna, he forced the Federation to change rules: his way of defending himself caught colleagues and judges unprepared, who ultimately had to amend the regulations. Like Senna, he attracts criticism from colleagues who dedicate entire driver's briefings to discuss (against) him. Michele Alboreto once said:
"That Brazilian is very strong, but he's too convinced that he can afford anything on the track. He's young, he'll learn, or he'll find someone to help him understand".
Kimi Raikkonen said after the Belgian Grand Prix:
"That guy is very fast, but this is not the way to drive. We risk killing ourselves".
But above all, just like Senna, Max knows he's special. Belongs to the chosen lineage:
"They criticize me? Say I'm dangerous? I don't care. I'm sure Senna and Prost would like what I do, and that's enough for me".
Meanwhile, the era of Ron Dennis at McLaren is about to conclude. After 35 years of management, the president and CEO of the Woking team, the one who gave the cars to Ayrton Senna to win his three world titles, seems destined to leave his positions. According to rumors, other shareholders of the group will ask the manager to leave the command cabin. The week before the Brazilian Grand Prix, Ron Dennis reportedly turned to the High Court to avoid gardening leave, or forced rest, but apparently, his attempt is not destined to succeed. Dennis's exit must be defined in negotiations with other shareholders. Dennis holds 25% of the McLaren group, while 50% is in the hands of the Bahrain Mumtalakat investment fund and belongs to Mansour Ojjeh, former business partner of Dennis now aligned with those who want to remove him. The McLaren boss took over the team in 1981 and has since led it to seven Constructors' World Championships and ten Drivers' World Championships with Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, and Lewis Hamilton. Dennis's future is weighed down mainly by the disappointing results of recent years and some ill-advised choices, especially the partnership with Honda, which marked the 2015 season as the worst ever for McLaren.
The front-runner to replace him would be the American Zak Brown, a prominent figure in F1 in the commercial field, whose name has also been associated with the new buyers of Liberty Media's Circus. The divorce from Dennis also raises questions about the future of the German Jost Capito, former boss of Volkswagen Motorsport, who joined McLaren in January and is strongly linked to the current team leader. But above all, Felipe Massa's Brazilian Grand Prix ends on lap 48, the last of his career in front of his fans. The Williams driver was forced to retire due to a spin near the entrance to the pit lane. Exiting the car, the Brazilian greeted the home crowd with tears and returned to the pit lane with a Brazilian flag received from the audience. The emotional farewell received by Massa from mechanics and industry professionals of all teams, especially from his former team, Ferrari, was moving. He wanted to give a good result to the thousands of fans along the home circuit and perhaps take a victory lap in his Williams for his last Grand Prix at Interlagos. Instead, on lap 48, he spun in front of the pit lane entrance, and on the walk to his team's garage, in tears, he received a warm embrace and a long applause from his fans, wife, son, parents, and all the people along the pit lane, including those from his former team, Ferrari.
"I'm sorry for the result because I wanted to finish well for the fans. Here in Brazil, I wanted to do my best, and that's what I was trying, but God knows what he's doing, and he stopped me in this place. It's hard to explain the emotion in front of these wonderful fans and the whole paddock. Everyone came out to greet me, applaud me, showing that even though it's a tough sport and world, it's made up of people full of humanity. I have to thank everyone for this day that will be hard to forget in my life. I will miss this world so much, which I like, which I love. I will miss races like this, like the one in Italy. I'm happy with what I chose to do, what I went through, and I have to thank everyone for these 15 not easy but very beautiful years".