Sao Paulo – Ferrari arrive at the Formula One Brazilian
Grand Prix looking to bounce back from both a disappointing race in
the United States and allegations of cheating - that they strongly
denied.
"I think overall it's been a good hunting ground for us and hopefully
it will be like that again this weekend," their driver Sebastian
Vettel said in the team preview for Sunday's race at the classic
Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo.
Vettel is the more likely Scuderia contender on the 90th anniversary
of the team being formed given Charles Leclerc will "drop at least 10
grid places - but quite likely a lot more," according to the F1
website, for using a new power unit.
Should Vettel win he will move level with Michael Schumacher on four
Brazilian triumphs. World champion Lewis Hamilton has two, the same
as his hero and local icon Ayrton Senna.
Ferrari experienced a sudden drop in performance at the US Grand
Prix, something Red Bull's Max Verstappen claimed was related to the
governing FIA issuing a clarification on how fuel could be delivered.
"That's what happens when you stop cheating, of course," he told
Dutch television.
Leclerc branded the accusations "a joke" as the young drivers, widely
considered potential future world champions continued a rivalry which
has bubbled this season with on-track clashes.
"We should be back to our normal performance level and show some
fighting spirit to finish the season on a high note," said team
principal Mattia Binotto.
"That will be important in order to confirm we are making progress
with our car and to take some of that momentum into the winter work."
Mercedes, having secured a sixth successive drivers' and
constructors' double, will be without team chief Toto Wolff who is
staying in Europe to "focus on other open topics."
Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas will definitely finish first and second
in the standings but Wolff insisted: "We have two races to go in the
2019 season and we want to end this season on a high."
On occasion Hamilton has eased off with the title won but celebrated
championship number five by winning in Brazil last year. Victory
again would take him to 84 career race wins and within seven of
Schumacher's all-time best of 91.
The circuit at Interlagos is a relatively short 4.309 kilometres
meaning the margin for error in Saturday's qualifying is small.
"We have generally not had the fastest car on Saturdays since the
summer break, but we were able to take pole in Austin and will try to
fight for a front row start again at Sao Paulo," said Wolff.
Ferrari have claimed six pole positions from the last eight races but
Red Bull will expect to be competitive again having been unlucky not
to win with Verstappen 12 months ago.
Verstappen could yet catch Leclerc for third in the standings but is
fending off Vettel from behind. His team-mate Alexander Albon will
also be on a high having confirmed his race seat for next season.
While that next term will already loom large in the thoughts of the
'big three' teams, the midfield pack of McLaren, Renault, Racing
Point and Toro Rosso have no such luxury.
Only 57 points separates McLaren in fourth from Toro Rosso's seventh
in the constructors' standings and with each place worth millions in
prize money, there will be no let up.