Brazilian GP final practice and qualifying
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Turn 4 and 12 is receiving heavier rain now, as confirmed by Renault's Hulkenberg.
Ocon and Vandoorne have both had big moments at those two corners in their last laps.
Ocon and Vandoorne have both had big moments at those two corners in their last laps.
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1 Verstappen, 2 Raikkonen, 3 Vettel, 4 Hamilton, 5 Magnussen, 6 Bottas, 7 Ricciardo, 8 Leclerc, 9 Grosjean, 10 Ericsson, 11 Hulkenberg, 12 Perez, 13 Sirotkin, 14 Ocon, 15 Sainz, 16 Alonso, 17 Gasly, 18 Stroll, 19 Hartley, 20 Vandoorne.
Radio Comms
Grosjean, currently ninth, reports he's struggling for tyre temp now and adds to the reports of droplets of rain.
Ocon moves himself just out of trouble by going 14th, and that puts Alonso into the drop zone in 16th. Still five minutes left in Q1.
The Interlagos circuit is blanketed in dark cloud, it almost looks dark in various places around the track but the heavens are yet to fully open just yet.
Stroll improves to 18th - that's not going to be enough.
Leclerc goes eighth, ahead of Grosjean, on a good weekend for the Ferrari customer teams so far.
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Sirotkin moves up to 13th, that puts Ocon into the drop zone.
Perez has climbed out of trouble into 11th. Vandoorne improves on his previous best, but still sits 18th and in trouble.
Magnussen pops his Haas into fifth, while team-mate Grosjean goes eighth.
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Radio Comms
"Reports of rain at Turn 12," Hamilton is told.
"Nothing there last time round," he replies.
"Nothing there last time round," he replies.
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Current drop zone: Perez, Hartley, Vandoorne, Sirotkin, Stroll.
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Radio Comms
Perez is told "rain is close".
Raikkonen adds: "We have some rain but it's very light."
Raikkonen adds: "We have some rain but it's very light."
Leclerc's had a spin, looked like it was at Turn 11.
Hamilton sets two personal best sectors, but by the end of his lap, he's slower than his previous time.
Radio Comms
Bottas is complaining on the radio that he was held up at the last corner in his Mercedes. There were three cars in his way with a Haas causing the imminent problem as it was sat on the apex.
Vettel has another go, moving up to third, and Bottas climbs to fifth.
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1 Verstappen, 2 Raikkonen, 3 Hamilton, 4 Vettel, 5 Ricciardo, 6 Leclerc.
The Toro Rossos are the final drivers to set their first times, but they can only go 15th (Gasly) and 17th (Hartley).
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Stroll ran wide at Turn 8 which ruined his lap last time round in the Williams.
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Vettel is only fourth, with Ricciardo fifth. Leclerc's Bottas-beating lap has him sixth now.
Stopwatch
We're using up our purple ink here - Verstappen beats Raikkonen's time with a 1m02.205s.
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Hamilton's car appears to be smoking as it was in Free Practice 3. We'll monitor that closely.
Stopwatch
Raikkonen beats Hamilton to go fastest with a 1m08.205s.
Radio Comms
There's a tailwind into Turn 4, Kimi Raikkonen is told, while Verstappen is also tipped off that the wind is travelling in the same direction as yesterday.
It may seem trivial, but wind makes a difference.
It may seem trivial, but wind makes a difference.
Stopwatch
The times are going to come thick and fast at the start of Q1 due to the threat of rain. Hamilton sets the early pace, while Leclerc's first effort outpaces Bottas for second.
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Radio Comms
Hamilton is told: "The rain is on its way."
Early laps could be key while it's still dry here.
Early laps could be key while it's still dry here.
Green flag
Q1 begins.
Valtteri Bottas will be a man to watch today after taking pole at this event last year for Mercedes. His team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, had crashed out on his first flying lap in Q1 at the Ferradura right-hander in the same session.
As it stands, Hamilton could take a 10th pole of the season if he succeeds today, while Sebastian Vettel is the next highest pole scorer with five.
As it stands, Hamilton could take a 10th pole of the season if he succeeds today, while Sebastian Vettel is the next highest pole scorer with five.
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As aforementioned, it's dry at the moment at around 23 degrees centigrade air temperature. The track temp is sizzling nicely towards 37, although there are threatening clouds in the air.
There's supersoft, soft and medium tyres available today for the teams and drivers, as well as the inters and wets which are often used at this venue at some point in the weekend.
There's supersoft, soft and medium tyres available today for the teams and drivers, as well as the inters and wets which are often used at this venue at some point in the weekend.
Autosport
Hello and welcome back to a currently dry Interlagos circuit, where this weekend's polesitter will be decided for the Brazilian Grand Prix.
There's always some surprises at the circuit near Sao Paulo, the session will be underway in just under 10 minutes.
There's always some surprises at the circuit near Sao Paulo, the session will be underway in just under 10 minutes.
Autosport
Here is our report from that session - we'll see you back here in around 90 minutes for the start of qualifying: 
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By: Geoff Creighton
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