Sahara Force India F1 Brazilian Grand Prix preview 21.11.2013: 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix Sahara Force India gets ready for the final round of the 2013 FIA Formula

2013 Brazilian Grand Prix
 
Sahara Force India gets ready for the final round of the 2013 FIA Formula One World Championship.
 




Vijay’s Vision

Dr Vijay Mallya looks ahead to the final race of the season.
 


How is the mood in the team following a challenging weekend in Austin?

In the races leading up to Austin we had done very well with managing tyres and pulling off aggressive strategies. Last weekend, however, with the hard compound we weren't able to manage the tyres in the same way and so our attempt with Paul did not pay off. As for Adrian, he was just unlucky, but accidents are part of the game and I am sure it will motivate him to finish the season well.
 


The team is still in a strong position in the points race…

It was important that we secured such strong results in India and Abu Dhabi. As I said before Austin, it gave us some breathing space and we are still 24 points ahead of our nearest competitor. I think the odds are in our favour, but there's no room for complacency: we need to make sure we get the job done in Interlagos.
 


What are your thoughts ahead of the final race of the season in Brazil?

The weather forecast is for some rain and that would introduce an element of unpredictability. That was the case last year when Nico [Hulkenberg] was leading the race, so we have good memories of Interlagos. It's a lovely track too and I'm looking forward to it. It's the last race of a long season and the end of an era before the new rules come into force next season.
 
 


 
Paul on Brazil

Paul Di Resta gets set for one of the most exciting races of the year.
 


Paul, tell us how it feels to be a Formula One driver at the Brazilian Grand Prix?

It’s one of the most atmospheric weekends of the year. The fans are the loudest and very passionate about Formula One. There are drums playing in the grandstands and a party mood all the time. It’s great to see and it definitely gives you a buzz.
 


Interlagos is one of the shorter laps of the season. Do you enjoy it?

Because it’s such a small track every hundredth and thousandth of a second becomes even more critical in qualifying. The lap has a very nice flow with a real variation of corners. There are fast sections, slow corners, elevation changes and off-camber parts of the lap. It may be small, but it has everything you need from a track.
 


What are you hopes for the final weekend of the 2013 season?

In terms of points scored this has been my best season in Formula One, but it would be great to round off the year with a special result. The weather forecast looks uncertain and it’s a track which always generates an interesting Grand Prix. It’s the final race for the V8 engines so I really hope we can end the era on a positive note.
 
 



 
Adrian on Brazil

Adrian Sutil looks ahead to the Brazilian Grand Prix.
 


Adrian, all the drivers seem to enjoy visiting Interlagos. Are you the same?

Sao Paulo is the complete opposite of somewhere like Abu Dhabi, but the atmosphere in Brazil is always amazing. It’s one of the historic races and the track only has a few corners, but every year it produces an interesting race.
 


Why do you think Interlagos always produces such good racing?

One of the reasons is because the main straight is so long. It’s quite easy to follow a car onto the straight and there’s a big chance for slip-streaming. It’s also a difficult circuit to drive despite its short length. It’s bumpy and quite low grip, which makes it hard to get the perfect lap.
 


What are your hopes for this weekend?

I want to finish the season well and help the team retain its position in the Championship. I had an unlucky weekend in the United States and there is no better way to forget it than with a strong result. I believe the track will suit our car and, should this be a wet race, we could be in a good position for a high-points finish.


- Sahara Force India also photo