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By: Jake Boxall-Legge

Summary

Status: Stopped
That's all for our latest trip in the Autosport Live time machine, looking back on arguably the most significant race in recent F1 history. Vettel's third title, Alonso's final real championship attempt, the final win for Button, the final appearance for Schumacher, and the end of Hamilton's time with McLaren.

How things would change from the start of 2013...

See you next time!
Felipe Massa gets a warm reception from his home crowd after scoring only his second podium of the season. A good way to end a tough year.

A tough pill for Alonso to swallow - but he greets the crowd on the podium. 

Jenson Button takes to the top step of the podium, and the British national anthem rings out over Interlagos.

This would of course be the final victory of Button's F1 career, and the most recent win for McLaren - something pretty unthinkable at the time.
Vettel goes off to complete his weight check, while Alonso is stood in parc ferme after a muted celebration with his Ferrari mechanics. A remarkable end to their title battle.
 

Vettel comes into parc ferme, jumps out of his car, and celebrates with his traditional single finger as cameras flock around him. 

Alonso took P2 for Ferrari, but it's not enough to take what would have been a remarkable title, falling three points shy in the final classification.

Felipe Massa completes the podium in third, his first rostrum on home soil since his final victory in 2008.

Mark Webber took fourth for Red Bull ahead of Hulkenberg and Vettel, while Schumacher bows out with seventh in his final F1 appearance.
"You're the world champion! You're the triple world champion, Sebastian Vettel, you are the man!" says Horner.

"Oh my God, guys!" replies a still muffled Vettel. He's the youngest triple world champion in F1 history.
But the man of the hour is Sebastian Vettel, who becomes a three-time world champion for Red Bull!

Vettel punches his hands into the sky, while Helmut Marko embraces both Newey and Horner on the Red Bull pit wall. Newey and Horner wipe their brows, spent from an exhausting race - they've done it!
Jenson Button crosses the line and WINS the Brazilian Grand Prix for McLaren! It's his third win of the season, a sweet success in difficult conditions.
It may have robbed us of a nail-biting final run to the flag, but thankfully di Resta is out of his car OK after that crash. The field is now slowing behind the safety car, which will peel into the pits to allow them to cross the line.
SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED

That's surely it. We're going to finish the season behind the safety car - and it will be a third world championship for Sebastian Vettel!
And now Paul di Resta has crashed! He's gone into the wall at the final corner - and it's a big impact with lots of debris left on the track.
It's really, really wet out there - but Button is still pushing on at the front.
Kobayashi spins! He was chasing Schumacher, but loses control in the wet. He gets back going again, but hands a place to Jean-Eric Vergne in the Toro Rosso.
The classic Christian Horner bouncing foot appears on the world feed as the nerves kick in on the Red Bull pit wall. Three laps to go now!
"Sebastian, you're a second faster than the next fastest car. There's a big gap to the car ahead, just keep it on the black stuff." - Rocky to Vettel

He's four laps away from a third world championship - but if he bins it, then Alonso will take the title. It's so tense!
Down the field, Vitaly Petrov has just passed Charles Pic for 12th place - a huge move for Caterham, who will move ahead of Marussia in the constructors' championship! With Pic on his way to Caterham for 2013, that's suiting all parties.

Five laps to go at Interlagos.
Vettel is up into sixth! He eases past Schumacher on the uphill run to Turn 5, the seven-time champion putting up little resistance.

A nice passing of the baton there between Germany's outgoing great and its current great.
"Just keep it on the track, mate, keep it on the track," Rocky tells Vettel. The rain is getting heavier - but still isn't quite enough for full wets. It could put a huge spoke into the title race if Vettel has a moment...
Massa dutifully slows on the run to Turn 4 to allow Alonso past into second place. As things stand, Vettel is champion by just a single point.
10 laps to go at Interlagos. Button leads by 16 seconds from Massa and Alonso. Vettel runs seventh, but is catching Schumacher - who was last and a lap down at one point! - in sixth place.
Massa is running a solid second for Ferrari right now, but will surely move aside for Alonso. Second won't be enough for Alonso, though, as Vettel is seventh.
New race leader Button comes in and takes a set of intermediates, while Hulkenberg does the same. With his drive-through served, he'll drop to fifth place.

Vettel has finally passed Kobayashi after spending over 30 laps behind the Sauber. He's looking good for the title right now, even with Alonso sitting third for Ferrari.
Hulkenberg has been handed a drive-through penalty for the clash with Hamilton, all but ending his podium hopes.

“I'm not too disappointed,” an upbeat Hulkenberg said after the race. “Fifth place is still a good result. I think I've learned a lot in this race. My first kilometres leading a race, and fighting with the top guys, so it was pretty eventful and a hell of a race. I'm proud of what we've done and my drive. It's not perfect but I'm still happy.”

Hamilton was less impressed, though: “The dude didn't even say sorry, so that says a lot. That's what happens when you race with the less experienced [drivers].”
Alonso is up into the podium places again - but saves a huge snap at Turn 3 to keep his car in the race! His steering wheel literally went upside down in the cockpit. It's surely time to make the switch to intermediates.

Vettel has already made the switch, but lost time after Red Bull didn't have a set ready for him, leaving him out of the points. Alonso could yet snatch the title still!

As for Hamilton? That's not how he would have wanted to end his McLaren career. A gutting finish for the 2008 world champion. 


A bitter blow for Hulkenberg, who looked capable of scoring a famous victory. 

Hulkenberg can continue, but Hamilton is now out of the race, parking his car up at pit exit. Game over.
Hulkenberg and Hamilton have crashed!!

Hulkenberg gets a good run on Hamilton on the main straight and takes to the inside to pass for the lead, only to lock up and slide straight into the path of Hamilton!
Hamilton has hit traffic! Glock and Kovalainen are forcing the McLaren to slow, backing him up toward Hulkenberg. The Force India has a sniff of snatching the lead back here.
Kimi Raikkonen's just taken a trip up an escape road after going off at Juncao - only to find the gate isn't open to get back onto the track!!

He's forced to turn around and go back the way he came before going across the grass to rejoin the track, costing him around 40 seconds.

Don't worry, Kimi, it's not like anyone will remember that...
Hulkenberg is flying in the damp conditions, closing up on Hamilton. Can he regain the lead?

A few of the lower-down runners have come in to take inters, gambling on this rain growing heavier. Vettel comes in for slicks, though - could that be a costly decision?
Another issue for Vettel - his radio isn't working properly, muffling his messages to offer a poor impression of Kenny from South Park.

"Sebastian, the radio does not work. Move the microphone if you can, the radio does not work," Rocky tells him.
The rain is coming... Lots of big blue patches on the radar making their way towards the circuit. We're close to the time for the final round of pit stops, but will it be for slicks or inters?
That's a hammer-blow for Force India, but the team is still looking good for a podium - and Hulkenberg has Hamilton within sight. This ain't over yet...
Hulkenberg has spun! He puts a wheel on the white line and spins his Force India, handing Lewis Hamilton the lead of the Brazilian Grand Prix!
Hamilton is really closing up on the rear of Hulkenberg at the front, just 1.2 seconds behind, with Button a further second back.

Another wistful throwback from this race is the branding for McLaren's 'Tooned' series on the rear wing. We'd love to see a modern-day version with Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr. getting up to various shenanigans!
Webber's had a moment at Juncao! He touches the slippery white line and sends his car sideways, but catches it in time to stay ahead of Toro Rosso's Ricciardo behind.

Vettel is closing on Kobayashi, but still stuck in seventh. The times are also dropping off at the front as the rain continues to grow heavier.

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