2014 Brazilian Grand Prix – The Grid: Can Massa Outsmart the Mercedes?

After the qualifying session that took place on Saturday evening, the editorial team offers you a recap of the starting grid.

The penalties were, in order, imposed on Daniil Kvyat (+7 grid places, remainder of his penalty for engine change in Austin) and Sergio Pérez (+7 places for causing a collision with Adrian Sutil at the United States GP).

The tires

Pirelli announces that a three-stop strategy is theoretically the fastest for this 71-lap GP. The manufacturer suggests a short stint on soft tires before switching to mediums, then fitting mediums again on the 21st lap and the 46th lap.

However, traffic on a short track could be a problem. There is then an almost equally fast two-stop strategy: start on softs, pit and switch to mediums on lap 13, before making one last pit stop for mediums on lap 42.

For those who would have the choice to start on mediums (apart from the drivers who moved on to Q3), a two-stop option exists: switch to medium tires at the end of the first stint on lap 29, then complete a final stint on softs starting from lap 58.

Pirelli claims that the teams will certainly start with the idea of making two pit stops while ensuring they leave room to implement a three-stop tire change strategy. All of this, of course, if rain does not disrupt the race and render all these forecasts null and void.

**The forces present**

The weather conditions could change everything, but in both dry and wet conditions, the Mercedes remain the hard-to-reach benchmarks. However, the Williams can stand out and cause an upset if the opportunity arises, with a particularly motivated Felipe Massa at home, who could have contended for pole position.

Behind, the usual battle between McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari looms, with a potential advantage during the race for the Austrian cars, although Sebastian Vettel is hoping for rain to have a chance to win one last time before leaving the red bull.