Mercedes’ Hamilton, Rosberg fastest in final Brazil practice

Nico Rosberg made it back-to-back race wins over Lewis Hamilton in the Brazilian Grand Prix to secure second place in the Drivers’ Championship.

Mercedes dominated the race but there was plenty of tension as Hamilton sought a way to try to beat his team-mate, his competitive desire undimmed by settling his third world title two races ago. Both Mclarens finished the race with Jenson and Alonso on P15 and 16 respectively.

“Suddenly Nico is back”, Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda told the BBC. “Right now Nico is better”.

“Last year I was strong in the race”.

“That’s the big problem in there and that’s why it doesn’t make sense in the battle between us two, because it should just be a battle of me against Lewis rather than luck of one strategy being better than the other”.

Indeed the pair could not even bring themselves to so much as exchange glances as they crossed paths while conducting their post-qualifying media duties in the Mercedes motorhome on Saturday. It led the Briton to say his team have felt the need to be “extra warm” to Rosberg since he won the title. It is a pity, for the sake of the championship, the German did not show those qualities earlier.

Todt added that a “moment of attention” will be observed for the Paris victims, but the FIA is yet to officially confirm its plans with a one-minute silence in memory of those who have died in road traffic accidents already scheduled.

Earlier a French flag with a black ribbon was pinned on to a truck for the pre-race drivers’ parade.

Back on the grid, Hamilton went for his team-mate as soon as the lights went out. Rosberg managed to improve on his time and the Hamilton was ultimately vanquished by 0.078. “My tyres are not going to last”, he complained over the radio.

Afterwards, Hamilton said: “Racing is what people want to see, but I couldn’t get close enough to do a great race”. Something has shifted in the vehicle, I guess I have been a little bit less comfortable with it.

Hamilton said he would like to have taken a risk and switched strategies but Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said that at the time Hamilton wanted to do that, it would have compromised his race and put his second place at risk. I killed my tyres and it is a shame because it is such a great track but you can’t get close enough to race.

“Nico has been doing fantastically well”.

Hamilton reclaimed second place when he overtook the Finn at Turn 15.

Can Rosberg finish his season with three straight wins? It is a very sensitive issue. At least Rosberg’s resurgence has raised hopes of a more competitive season in 2016.

Rosberg said: “I’m pleased with today”. I’m just happy it’s going that way.

On track Hamilton headed Vettel and Rosberg, and Massa was very fortunate to squeak through into Q3 as fellow Brazilian Nasr was 11th on 1m 12.989s, just a tenth slower. Verstappen pulled off so many eye-catching moves the only surprise was he came ninth. It is a brilliant season for Force India. Ferrari’s follow third and fourth.