Tight fight for top 10 spots
F1 END: BATTLE FOR THIRD IN DRIVERS’ TITLE RACE IS BETWEEN LECLERC AND VERSTAPPEN
Sixth to eighth is seven point spread with Albon on 84, Sainz on 80, Gasly on 77.
Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo, Brazil will host the penultimate round of the current F1 season this Sunday. With both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships decided, this race and the final in Abu Dhabi should allow some open racing throughout the field.
The battle for third in the
Drivers’ title race is between Charles Leclerc on 249 points, chased by Max Verstappen on 235.
Sebastian Vettel will hope for a good finish to increase his 230 points in a bid to overhaul his Red Bull rival.
Sixth to eighth is just a seven point spread with Alex Albon on 84, Carlos Sainz on 80 and Pierre Gasly with 77.
Incredibly, it is just as tight in the fight for the last of the top 10 positions.
Hopefully we will be in for two riveting race weekends.
Even more interesting will be the performance of the Maranello cars after Verstappen’s vocal claim that Ferrari have been cheating since the summer break.
The Italian press were not amused and neither was the Scuderia’s Team Principal Mattia Binotto, who was seen in intense discussion with his opposite number at Red Bull, Christian Horner.
“Cheating” is a strong allegation and requires the complainant to put up lots of money and lodge an official complaint with the FIA.
So far this has not occurred.
Technical development in Formula One has often created such issues throughout the years.
It often has been found that rules were not broken but are not within the spirit of the sport and therefore the term “cheating” does not apply.
Often no fine is issued – rather a directive to desist from employing the offending technology.
So without such an official investigation perhaps Verstappen’s statement should also be considered not within the spirit of the sport. One man that will not be in Brazil this weekend is Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, the Austrian having attending every race since 2013.
In a Mercedes race preview he is reported as saying. “With both championships secured, it gives me more time in Europe to focus on other open topics.
“It is great to be able to do this and to know that the team will represent the three-pointed star in the best way possible both on and off the track.”
He continued: “Last week we had the chance to celebrate the championships with everyone at Brixworth and Brackley – the 1 500 men and women that form this amazing team and make this extraordinary success possible.
“It is always a special moment and this year’s was particularly special as our sixth consecutive double sets a new benchmark in our sport.”
One must remember that Wolff is also head of motorsport at Mercedes and will be in Saudi Arabia to oversee the company’s first Formula E race one week after Brazil.
Cheating complaint hangs heavily in the air