Stefano Domenicali: “I don't think the title will be awarded this Sunday”

Brazil will host the world's two biggest sporting events in the coming years – the Olympic Games in 2016 and the football World Cup in 2014 – but both will have to struggle to match the interest generated by the last editions of the Brazilian Grand Prix in Formula 1.

2010 will be the 38th edition of this race which, for many years, was placed in the initial part of the calendar before sliding to the final part from 2004, thus very often becoming the stage for many decisive battles for the world title . Just like last year, also in this sixtieth edition of the World Championship the race will be the penultimate of the season, never before will it hold so much suspense in the fight for the championship, with five drivers still in contention. The ranking sees Fernando Alonso in the lead with 231 points but the fourth in the standings, Sebastian Vettel, is only 25 points away, the score going to the first place. Behind the German is the title holder, ahead of Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton.

In theory Fernando would have the chance to secure the world championship already in Sao Paulo but it would really take a rather unlikely combination of results, as the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Team Principal Stefano Domenicali underlines: "I don't think the title will be awarded this Sunday but it will certainly be a very important race: anyone who loses too many points in Brazil would be in serious difficulty in Abu Dhabi.”

Everyone in the Maranello team followed the advice given by Domenicali himself immediately after the success in the Korean Grand Prix: keep their feet on the ground. “The approach that the team will have in these last two rounds will be the right one, keeping in mind the strength of our rivals McLaren and Red Bull” – continues Domenicali – “We have seen how complicated the races can be during this championship, which means that we will have to be very cautious. As for the F10, there will be some small aerodynamic updates but nothing particularly significant: the difference will be reliability and mental toughness. In any case, I think that the F10 can be competitive and the power ratios should not be very different from those seen in the last races: we expect a very strong Red Bull as always and a McLaren which could have some updates and therefore be faster and in full struggle for the top.”

The Scuderia has already won the Brazilian race ten times, including twice with Felipe Massa, in 2006 and 2008. “It's his home race and, knowing him, I'm sure he will have extra motivation to do well” – Domenicali says of his Brazilian driver – “He will want to demonstrate his value to his fans and therefore I expect to see him fully fighting and ready to do everything possible to win. It will be very fast and that's what we need now to achieve our goals.”

Felipe himself can't wait to race in front of his supporters: “This is the race I missed the most last year, when I was out after the accident in Budapest. After the absence in 2009, it would be nice to fight for the lead again, especially because it would be vital for the standings of the two championships.”

Alonso has never won here but a third place at Interlagos was enough to give him his first world title in 2005 while a second earned him the same finish the following year. “Fernando will approach the Interlagos race in the same way he approached the last few, having in mind that the most important thing will be to finish the race and that, unless something unforeseeable happens, this would mean bringing home a good haul of points” – states Domenicali.

“We are going to Brazil with the same spirit with which we went to play our cards in the last races: concentrated on our work, determined to get the most out of every opportunity, aware that the calculations will be made in Abu Dhabi” – says Fernando – “ The track is very interesting and usually offers very spectacular racing. Weather conditions, which can be very variable, could play an important role and we will have to be ready for any eventuality. With such a fast and short track, the gaps will be reduced and there will be many drivers within a few tenths of a second."

There have been many editions of the Brazilian Grand Prix that Domenicali has witnessed in his now long career in Formula 1 so we asked him what the best and worst memories linked to this race are. “I think the best memory is undoubtedly 2007. It was the final stage and only two races before Kimi was 17 points behind in the standings: winning the Drivers' title with the Finn and the Constructors' title together with Felipe was truly memorable from a sporting point of view” – says Domenicali – “The worst is linked to the following edition, to what could be defined as Felipe's last corner. When he crossed the finish line he was world champion then, a few seconds later, the title passed to Lewis Hamilton. It was a difficult moment, although the bitterness was eased slightly by the fact that we won the Constructors' title. For Felipe and the whole team it was really tough. What remains an extraordinary moment in our sport was the way he reacted a few minutes after the end of the race, when he stood on the podium showing great self-control, as did the team, and an enormous sense of sportsmanship."