2011 Brazilian Grand Prix

Previous race

Hamilton won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, leading throughout except during the pit stop phases, with Alonso second and Button third. Vettel retired on the opening lap with a puncture and suspension damage after spinning at Turn 2.

Milestones

This is the 326th and final race for Rubens Barrichello — the most experienced Formula One driver in history at this point, with 11 Grand Prix victories. It is also the 256th and last race for Jarno Trulli.

Between-race developments

After substituting for Alguersuari in FP1 in Korea and for Buemi in FP1 in Abu Dhabi, Jean-Éric Vergne drives for Toro Rosso in FP1 again, replacing whichever of the two Toro Rosso drivers has fewer points — confirmed as Buemi. Jan Charouz, having completed sufficient mileage at the Abu Dhabi Young Driver Test to qualify for an FIA Super Licence, drives for HRT in FP1 in place of Liuzzi. Luiz Razia drives for Lotus in place of Trulli. Romain Grosjean drives for Renault in place of Petrov. Hülkenberg drives Force India’s Adrian Sutil’s car.

With Liuzzi and Trulli both on the sidelines for FP1, the session will be the first since the 2005 United States Grand Prix in which no Italian driver has taken part in a timed session.

Tyre choices

After trialling a new soft compound in FP1 at Abu Dhabi, Pirelli has confirmed it will use that compound as the race tyre in Brazil.