SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Mercedes and Ferrari are set to start the Brazilian Grand Prix on alternate strategies, setting up a fascinating contest which may also be affected by mid-race rain.
Ferrari's qualifying gamble of having Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen progress from Q2 on the soft tyre means both will start on the strategy Pirelli predicts gives the quickest route to the chequered flag in dry conditions. That advantage mitigated some of the disappointment of Vettel being beaten to pole position by new world champion Lewis Hamilton, who starts on the less durable super-soft tyre.
If the rain stays away, Vettel and Raikkonen -- and anyone else starting on the soft tyre -- should be able to stay on that compound until around lap 32-36, before taking on the medium tyre to the finish.