F1 Raceweek: Rosberg on the brink, Ricciardo is the pits – Brazilian GP in numbers
The Brazilian Grand Prix has crowned its fair share of Formula One world champions over the years, and Nico Rosberg could become the latest at the penultimate race of the season this weekend.
The Mercedes driver leads team-mate and defending champion Lewis Hamilton by 19 points in the drivers’ standings following back-to-back victories for the Briton in the United States and Mexico.
But time is running out for Hamilton to claim his third title in a row, piling the pressure on him to achieve a positive result at Interlagos.
Here are some of the most compelling stats surrounding the Brazilian GP, courtesy of Opta.
1 – If Nico Rosberg wins the race or claims seven points more than Lewis Hamilton, he will become the new F1 world champion.
19 – The German driver has qualified on the front row of the grid in each race this season (eight times on pole and 11 times in second position).
24 – Red Bull will be confirmed as runners-up in the constructors’ world championship if their drivers claim at least 24 points in Brazil. They have achieved that feat in four of the last five races.
48 – Daniel Ricciardo has made more pit-stops than any other driver this season (48).
5 – Ferrari have failed to reach the podium in five consecutive races, their worst streak since Fernando Alonso left the Italian team.
24 – Rosberg is the driver who has won the most races without claiming the title (24). If he takes it this this year then this record will revert to Stirling Moss (16).
2 – Graham Hill won the world championship in 1962 and his son Damon followed in his footsteps 34 years later. Rosberg’s dad Keke won in 1982, 34 years ago. If Nico wins it would mark the second father-son duo to win the World Championship.
4 – Since 2008, only German (four) or British (four) drivers have won the world championship.
51 – Last weekend Hamilton won the 51st race of his career, equaling Alain Prost as the driver with the second most wins in F1 history.
19 – Mercedes are just one behind the record of most poles in a single season (19).
5 – Felipe Massa has reached the podium at Jose Carlos Pace more times than at any other circuit (five times).
3 – In the last three Brazilian GPs, the driver on pole went on to win the race – it had never happened before at Interlagos.
