2010 Brazilian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Alonso leads the Drivers’ Championship with 231 points, ahead of Webber on 220 and Hamilton on 210. Vettel is fourth with 206 and Button fifth with 189. All five drivers are mathematically in contention for the title. Red Bull lead the Constructors’ Championship with 426 points; McLaren are second on 399 and Ferrari third on 374. Red Bull need to score 16 points more than McLaren to clinch the Constructors’ title in Brazil.

Previous race

At Korea, Alonso won ahead of Hamilton and Massa. Webber retired after spinning and colliding with Rosberg. Vettel’s engine failed with ten laps remaining, stranding him on the circuit. Button finished twelfth. The result transformed the championship: Alonso leads for the first time since the early rounds.

Championship permutations

Alonso can clinch the title in Brazil if he wins and Webber finishes fifth or lower.

Between-race developments

Webber has attracted controversy with comments suggesting Red Bull would support Vettel over him in the championship battle: “It’s obvious isn’t it? Of course when young, new chargers come onto the block, that’s where the emotion is.” Team principal Christian Horner said Webber’s words were taken out of context. Vettel responded: “If Mark needs help then he should take the medical car.”

Hispania has replaced Sakon Yamamoto with Christian Klien for unexplained reasons; Klien previously deputised at Singapore.

Car upgrades

Ferrari and Williams modify their brake ducts to optimise aerodynamic efficiency. Ferrari’s changes add a small fin to the front brake ducts for additional downforce. Williams installs fins on the rear brake ducts to recover downforce from exhaust flow. Williams also installs a new engine in Barrichello’s car.

Practice

In dry conditions, Vettel was fastest in the first session at 1:12.328, with Webber second and the McLarens of Hamilton and Button third and fourth. Petrov lost control cresting a hill to the Ferradura corner and damaged his front-right corner against the outside tyre wall. Kobayashi spun at the same corner and loosened his right-rear tyre. Alonso’s high-mileage engine failed two laps earlier than anticipated; Ferrari changed engines. Vettel again set the fastest lap in the second session at 1:11.938. Massa’s session ended early with an electrical fault from mounting a kerb. Schumacher and Alguersuari made contact at the Senna S chicane; Schumacher appeared to brake-test the Toro Rosso.

Rain returned overnight and remained into the morning of Saturday practice, creating a damp track. Drivers explored the circuit on wet-weather tyres before conditions improved. Kubica lapped fastest at 1:19.191 on intermediate tyres in the final session, three-tenths ahead of Vettel. Hamilton and Massa were third and fourth; Alonso fifth. Button suffered from poor front-end grip and made two errors.