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2012 Brazilian Grand Prix
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"I'm not sure this set will get to the end," says leader Hulkenberg. He's been out there on a set of Hard tyres since the safety car, and has Hamilton still a couple of seconds behind. 28 laps to go at Interlagos.
Eight world titles and about an inch between these two. Bravo!
Raikkonen and Schumacher go wheel-to-wheel through the Senna esses! Some epic racing there, no contact at all - hard but fair.
Massa is flying out there right now for Ferrari, forcing his way past Kobayashi to take fifth, with Alonso ahead. He's playing a fine rear gunner so far today.
Vettel is still stuck behind Kobayashi in the Sauber, but P7 is enough for the title right now by seven points.
Vettel is still stuck behind Kobayashi in the Sauber, but P7 is enough for the title right now by seven points.
Hulkenberg is over two seconds clear of Hamilton at the front now, and showing few signs of cracking under pressure. A brilliant display from the Sauber-bound youngster - surely a maiden podium is on the cards right now?
And if not now, then soon, right..?
And if not now, then soon, right..?
Stopwatch
Another fastest lap for leader Hulkenberg, 1m.19.533s.
Massa has just passed Vettel for sixth, doing team-mate Alonso a massive favour. It's still not enough to give the Ferrari man the title, but things are moving in the right direction...
Massa has just passed Vettel for sixth, doing team-mate Alonso a massive favour. It's still not enough to give the Ferrari man the title, but things are moving in the right direction...
And back comes Alonso, re-taking the place from Kobayashi into Turn 1. They're all starting to have some slides out there as the rain continues - but still far off being time to switch to intermediates.
Kobayashi passes Alonso! He dives ahead of the Spaniard at Turn 4 - with commentator David Croft calling it a "Leroy Jenkins" moment - well, quite!
"Be careful, it's very slippery off-line," Vettel is told, who now has Massa on his tail after the Brazilian passes di Resta.
"Be careful, it's very slippery off-line," Vettel is told, who now has Massa on his tail after the Brazilian passes di Resta.
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Hamilton takes second place! He eases past Button into Turn 4, who is now being tailed by Alonso and Kobayashi. Vettel is trying to keep things calm in sixth right now.
Kobayashi is now all over the back of Alonso's Ferrari. The Sauber man has never shied away from a fight in his F1 career, and doesn't plan to start doing so now, even with his future at the team looking bleak. This is quickly becoming a day for the underdogs.
Green flag
GREEN FLAG - We're back racing in Brazil!
Hulkenberg perfects his restart to keep ahead of Button and Hamilton - but Vettel's been caught napping! He slips behind Kobayashi into Turn 1, while Webber runs wide as they go three-abreast.
Hulkenberg perfects his restart to keep ahead of Button and Hamilton - but Vettel's been caught napping! He slips behind Kobayashi into Turn 1, while Webber runs wide as they go three-abreast.
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The safety car is coming in this lap - and the rain is starting to return! This could be a very interesting restart.
The safety car is continuing to lead the field around, but we should be back racing soon now the debris has been cleared.
The lapped cars have been given the wave-past, giving Michael Schumacher the chance to unlap himself at the rear of the field. A nice boost for the seven-time champion in his farewell grand prix, but he remains well out of the points.
Radio Comms
"A message for Charlie," begins Vettel, who then informs the race director of where the debris is worst and where the marshals need to focus on.
A couple of shots on the feed show Whiting and his faithful deputy, Herbie Blash, in race control. This would be one of the busiest races of their times running grands prix. The F1 community misses Charlie deeply.
A couple of shots on the feed show Whiting and his faithful deputy, Herbie Blash, in race control. This would be one of the busiest races of their times running grands prix. The F1 community misses Charlie deeply.
Vettel is nursing a cracked exhaust on his Red Bull RB8 car. Team technical chief Adrian Newey would later explain: "If the exhaust pipe breaks, which it's highly likely to with that sort of damage, then it will probably catch the bodywork on fire."
So the top five behind the safety car:
1. Hulkenberg
2. Button
3. Hamilton
4. Alonso
5. Vettel
It's enough for Vettel right now - but with that damage, can his car get home?
1. Hulkenberg
2. Button
3. Hamilton
4. Alonso
5. Vettel
It's enough for Vettel right now - but with that damage, can his car get home?
Yellow flag
SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED
The race is neutralised to clear the debris all over the track on Lap 23, and bring a little calm to a frenetic race.
It's bad news for Hulkenberg and Button, who were 47 seconds clear of the field after not pitting. Both are coming in to take a fresh set of slicks.
The race is neutralised to clear the debris all over the track on Lap 23, and bring a little calm to a frenetic race.
It's bad news for Hulkenberg and Button, who were 47 seconds clear of the field after not pitting. Both are coming in to take a fresh set of slicks.
Rosberg has a puncture, and his Mercedes car is shedding a lot of debris on the race track. "There is so much debris on the track," reports Alonso.
Could this be a safety car?
Could this be a safety car?
Stopwatch
Race leader Hulkenberg sets a new fastest lap, 1m21.175s, to pull out a lead on Button. The fairytale story is in the works right now!
Hulkenberg and Button are 44 seconds clear of Hamilton in third place right now. If things stay calm, this could be a two-horse race for victory...
Alonso has also made the switch back to slicks, meaning Red Bull will surely do the same with Vettel shortly.
Rocky gives Vettel the "box, box" call, and in comes the German. He takes a fresh set of slicks with a trouble-free stop, and slithers out of the pit lane directly behind Alonso.
Rocky gives Vettel the "box, box" call, and in comes the German. He takes a fresh set of slicks with a trouble-free stop, and slithers out of the pit lane directly behind Alonso.
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He can! Nico Hulkenberg LEADS the Brazilian Grand Prix for Force India!
He gets a better launch out of the final corner and sweeps around the outside into Turn 1. What a move! That's the first time in Hulkenberg's career he is leading a grand prix, only adding to his rising stock.
Hamilton pits, and moves back to slick tyres. Expect most of the other drivers to soon follow suit.
He gets a better launch out of the final corner and sweeps around the outside into Turn 1. What a move! That's the first time in Hulkenberg's career he is leading a grand prix, only adding to his rising stock.
Hamilton pits, and moves back to slick tyres. Expect most of the other drivers to soon follow suit.
Hulkenberg is crawling all over the back of Button's car right now. Can he move into the lead of a race for the first time in his F1 career?
Adrian Newey has been handed a printed-out photo of the damage to Vettel's car on the pit wall - and the grimace on Christian Horner's face isn't pretty. They know this could mean big trouble for their title hopeful...
Hulkenberg is piling pressure on Button in the lead, moving within a second of the McLaren. Could he pull off an underdog result here?
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Webber gets a "thank you" from the Red Bull pit wall after allowing Vettel pass. Vettel is running 12th after getting caught behind a load of traffic, losing ground to Alonso, who is now P9.
Oh, add many of the back markers to the yet-to-pitters. Kovalainen is running P6 for Caterham ahead of Petrov, with the Marussia pair of Charles Pic and... is that Glock? IT IS!
(Sorry, we had to...)
(Sorry, we had to...)
Radio Comms
"It's stopped raining, it's stopped raining," reports leader Button. Button, Hulkenberg and Massa are the only drivers yet to pit for inters.
Hamilton pits from second to switch to intermediates, promoting Hulkenberg into P2.
Title fighters Alonso and Vettel have both also made the switch, separated by around five seconds as they exit the pits. This battle is well and truly on...
Title fighters Alonso and Vettel have both also made the switch, separated by around five seconds as they exit the pits. This battle is well and truly on...
Mark Webber comes into the pits for Red Bull, taking intermediates after a brief overshoot of his pit box. Team-mate Vettel is told to be careful of Massa ahead as he has been blocking for Alonso, who in turn has just gone off again at Turn 1.
The forecast is this rain shower will pass - but will it be worth coming in for inters? Raikkonen was one of the first drivers to change, but isn't yet on a par with the leaders' pace. Button is informed by his McLaren engineer he is still on the right tyre.
Radio Comms
"It's a long race," says Vettel's engineer, Rocky. "Keep your car on the black stuff, that's all we need."
Jenson Button takes the lead! Hamilton runs wide at Turn 4, allowing his McLaren team-mate through.
Vettel is fighting his way back well, already running seventh - but they're all struggling to keep their cars in a straight line right now. Surely it will be time for intermediates soon...
Vettel is fighting his way back well, already running seventh - but they're all struggling to keep their cars in a straight line right now. Surely it will be time for intermediates soon...
Yellow flag
Grosjean is out of the race in the Lotus! He goes off on the run to Juncao, and that's his day - and season - done.
Button is all over the back of Hamilton for the lead, and Webber's also had a spin, dropping him down the order!! It's all going on!
Button is all over the back of Hamilton for the lead, and Webber's also had a spin, dropping him down the order!! It's all going on!
Hulkenberg has quickly ditched the chasing cars behind. Massa passes Webber for fifth, while Kobayashi has now jumped di Resta for P7. He's already up seven places on the Hard tyres - but the first cars are now coming in to switch to intermediates.
Alonso locks up and goes straight on at Turn 1, handing third place to Hulkenberg. Webber tries to also pass the Ferrari, but can't find a way through into Turn 4.
DRS has been disabled due to the growing drizzle. Some of the teams are getting wet tyres ready in the pit lane.
DRS has been disabled due to the growing drizzle. Some of the teams are getting wet tyres ready in the pit lane.
...and here's the damage Vettel is now nursing on his car. It'll be costing him downforce - but will it cost him the world title?
Senna and Perez have both retired from the race after the clash with Vettel - who is somehow still running.
By: Jake Boxall-Legge
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