With the 2017 championship already wrapped up, attentions turn to the battle for second place in Sao Paulo this weekend.
Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel will no doubt be determined to claim the runners-up spot behind Lewis Hamilton, with the pressure cranked up a few notches in the final two races of the campaign.
Having failed to deliver on their strong start early on, the Scuderia arguably face the most pressure going into the Brazil showpiece, as Bottas threatens to make it a one-two finish in the Championship race.
And, speaking of Bottas, the Finn will need a strong finish in Brazil and Abu Dhabi if he is to silence his critics and prove his one-year contract extension was not a mistake.
While it is true that most eyes will be on Mercedes and Ferrari, Red Bull will also be hoping to make an impact by continuing their recent improvement. They’ve won two out of the last four races and how the Red Bull chassis has improved so much recently has been one of the big talking points in the paddock.
If their form continues into Brazil this weekend and Abu Dhabi, it’s fair to say it’s not a flash in the pan and that they will definitely be in the championship hunt in 2018.
