Bradley, you’re going into the final round as the Championship leader, two points ahead of your team mate. Do you think you have a good chance at coming out victorious?
Despite the lead, I don’t think my chances are better than anyone else’s. I don’t like Brazil, I can’t seem to get to grips with it, and everyone else fighting for the Championship is quicker in the wet, I think we’re going to struggle, but I’m not sure anyone is really a clear favourite.
Jamie, you’ve lead the Championship for a good number of races, but just lost it going into the final round. Despite this, do you still think you can take it back?
I think it’s going to be very difficult. These are five of the World’s finest drivers, driving some fantastically fast machinery. That, plus the fact that they all seem to favour Interlagos, and have an affinity with it almost, does seem to weigh against me. However, I’m only two points from the lead, and I have to believe that it’s possible.
Johnny, you’re going into the final round eight points from the lead, with one win to your name, how do you feel your chances are?
I am a Samurai, the Samurai must never give up until the sun sets. I shall continue to reign my darkest powers against those fools who underestimate me. Those who dare stand in my path to destiny shall meet their doom!
William, despite your retirement in the previous Grand Prix, you have stayed in the hunt, only losing four points. Do you feel like you can still take the title?
We are definitely in with a chance, despite a disastrous weekend for me, Alfie showed that the car has the pace to win races. The car has been competitive nearly everywhere so I think we remain in strong contention for the title. I’ve always had a love for Interlagos, and some great battles have been fought here and I hope that the race ranks up there as one of the best.
Hollis, you’re currently three points behind your team mate, and eleven behind Championship leader Bradley Downton. Are you disappointed that you’re further down, despite having the same amount of victories as the Lotuses?
I wouldn’t say disappointed, for sure it has been a difficult season after a strong start but we’ve managed to pick up two victories in the last three races and haven’t finished below where we qualified so hopefully we can carry this through to Brazil.
Felipe, you’re the furthest behind in the Championship battle, twelve points down. Do you still think that you can take the title, despite being on the podium only four times, including one win?
For sure, I am definitely capable of winning the championship. As we have seen throughout the year, anything is possible, so I cannot be discounted from the title. The Lotus drivers aren’t Interlagos specialists, which should give the rest of us an advantage heading into Sao Paulo. A win by itself would let me leapfrog Ingram and the Red Bull drivers in the standings. Although I’ve only won once, I’ve been in the top five for most of the races. I won in the torrential rain in Spa but I recently finished second in the dry desert conditions of Abu Dhabi. I’m confident of my chances in Sao Paulo, then. As it’s my hometown, I hope the support of the fans will help me edge out the competition because I’m definitely the underdog right now.
Reliability has been a huge concern for McLaren this season, your team mate alone retiring from nine of the nineteen races so far, and you from five. Does the reliability of your car play on your mind going into the final round?
I can’t think about that now, I’m still in contention and that’s all that matters. McLaren have built a very fast car and the boys in the garage and I just hope I can give it to them.
Bradley, the last two results, including a seventh place and a retirement were far from desirable. Does this play on your mind going into the last race of the season?
I can’t think about our last results. The whole Championship rests on this weekend, so I’m treating it like a one race Championship. Whoever comes out on top, will come out on top. Obviously the fact that others are in better form is not great, but I don’t think it’s all that important.
Saying that, a podium place could still possibly award you the title, in some circumstances. In that instance, would you merely take it easy and ensure a finish, or are you going to go for the win, all guns blazing?
The Championship is still the most important, I’d love to win it by winning the race, but that might not be possible and I don’t want to throw away the opportunity by doing something stupid. If I’m in a comfortable position to win, I shall stay put.
To both Red Bull drivers: You’ve both claimed that Interlagos is a favoured track of yours. But what makes the track so special?
HG: It is just a special track, The history behind it is fantastic with some truly great races having been hosted here. Most of all though it is the flow of the circuit with a fairly consistent speed through each corner and elevation change makes for my favourite track to drive
JK: This is the mega awesome circuit where Ayrton Senna won twice. I’m totally gonna be like Senna and win at Interlagos. Yellow helmet plus Interlagos equals a mega frigging epic ride.
The Red Bull was starting to look like it was falling behind in its development, going through thirteen races, before it finally stood atop the podium once more. Has it been difficult for the team to keep motivated?
I am not only fighting Downton, Franklin, Ingram, Graham and Bomney. I am also fighting Lotus, Mclaren, Ferrari, and shamefully, my own team. I have a conspiracy that Chris Horner and Adrian Newey are favoring Graham. Nevertheless, I have not done bad for a #2 driver. I know Red Bull are trying to take the championship away from me, but I’m going to fug it and win it anyway.
And how was this period for you, Hollis?
As I said earlier it was difficult for sure. a high of second place on my home soil but nothing of note really, consistently picking up points is the only reason I have a chance though I definitely didn’t think I was in the hunt going into India but here we are only 11 points behind the lead going into the finale.
The Ferrari hasn’t seemed like the fastest of cars this season, does that play on your mind as you enter the final race?
The Ferrari has definitely been off the pace of the leaders throughout the year but it hasn’t let me down- yet! Interlagos is a demanding track- the gearboxes on the McLaren and Red Bull cars may fall prey to it. For sure it is a bit distressing knowing my car isn’t the fastest heading out into the final race, but Rob and I finished second in Abu Dhabi and Austin, respectively- this proves we’re capable of the podium.
Robert Mathershaw fell out of the hunt, but could still play a part in the race. Do you think this gives you a slight advantage over Red Bull and Lotus?
Rob has experienced some horrid luck this year, but I’m counting on him to take points off our rivals. He was quick in Texas and I’m hoping his speed will translate here in Brazil. Obviously, we need our rivals to finish off the podium, especially Lotus. Varga, Chan, and Widger could all be factors in the title fight, so there’s a lot of unpredictability heading into the the finale.
Like Felipe, you are the sole contender for the title, for your team. Do you think this gives you an advantage over Red Bull and Lotus?
Matthijs is a great driver, he’s outperformed the HRT this year, and won convincingly last time he was in the McLaren, I think this definitely helps me.
Jamie, you seem to have had a bit of a slump in form in the second half of the season. Back to back victories in Germany and Hungary, but no wins since then and only two podiums compared to your team mate’s five. Is this something that bothers you, especially now that you’ve lost the lead?
Of course it does, a little. You think about these things now and then, and wonder about what might have gone wrong, or what you may have done differently. I think what is most important though is to just focus on myself getting in a good rhythm on track, with a nice balance and then push from there. I can’t let it get in my head, that’s for sure.
Finally, to all of you, who do you think has the best chance of winning the title? Besides yourselves of course!
BD: As I said earlier, I don’t think anyone has any better chance than anyone else, but out of everyone, I’d say Johnny. He has looked mega here in the past, and is the highest in the Championship that likes this track.
JF: It’s really difficult to say. With the weather here, it’s anyone’s guess and whoever it is will need to be on top form all weekend. If I had to try and second guess the result, I’d probably go with William. Results don’t lie, and he’s been on form for the entire year. He may have only had one victory, but so have Johnny and Felipe. Personally, I think whoever stands on the top of the podium at the end of the race will be our Champion.
JK: Controversial Kingshark is going to controversially say Bomney. He is my biggest rival. I have more respect for him than anyone else, as he has proven that he can win in an inferior and non-best car.
WI: As leaders all season long, you’ve got to fancy the Lotus’ haven’t you? The Red Bulls have also been very quick and Felipe just seems to finish, you can guarantee he’ll be up there come the end of the race. So all I can say is it will be fascinating and whoever wins it will deserve I.
HG: In all truthfulness I think…. hmmmm… Well I would say one of the lotus drivers. With them being ahead of the pack by enough to still win without the need to be in the top couple of spots. Maybe it is not their favourite track but it is definitely is an unpredictable track with the weather and tussle for the victory going on. So I think one of those guys Will could easily pick it up.
FB: For sure, the Lotus duo hold the advantage in terms of points, and, having been quick all year, are certainly viewed as the favourites. However, Graham has been on a late-season charge with wins in India and the Abu Dhabi so I would definitely consider him as fierce competition.
