Down To The Wire: Hamilton Versus Massa

So it has come to this. After eight months of die hard racing, controversial decisions and a fierce championship battle, two men have emerged above everybody else, they are the elite class, they are Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa.

Both have slipped up and both have dominated a weekend. But who will reign in Brazil?

Felipe Massa heads to his home circuit under pressure. Immense pressure. The nation expects a championship, the first Brazilian to claim one since the great and magical Ayrton Senna.

The Brazilian is seven points behind Hamilton and must finish first or second to stand any chance of claiming the title. Considering the current friendship statuses between drivers, unless Massa makes a huge mistake, he can expect to finish second at least.

This is because:

• Raikkonen would return the favour of 2007
• Alonso has vowed to help Massa to the title
• Piquet and Barrichello are fellow countrymen
• Any other drivers excluding Kovalainen and Hamilton would probably settle for a podium to go out on a high.

But Massa can't rely on others to win the championship for him, he has to do it himself. He has always been uber-quick around Interlagos and this year will probably be no exception.

Felipe's race pace must be spot on. He needs to get a light enough car to get it on the front row at least but also enough as to not get leapfrogged at the first round of pit stops. He is on a new engine so there are no worries there.

I expect a good race from Massa, regardless if Ferrari are still having problems in matching McLaren.

The championship leader comes to Interlagos with just a tad less pressure in my opinion.

He is seven points clear and needs to finish fifth or above to clinch the title, regardless to where Massa finishes.

However, should he slip down the race classification he will find it harder to get past certain cars. The only people who will help him well be:

• Rosberg. The pair have been good friends since karting.
• Sutil. They always speak with each other on the drivers parade.
• Button and Coulthard. Fellow countrymen.
• Kovalainen. Usual role.

The only problem for Lewis is the fact that throughout the season most of those cars have been slower than him all season and it is unlikely that Hamilton will have to struggle to overtake them. Leaving him alone against a grid of cars that aren't his best friends at the moment.

However, I think the chances of Hamilton and Massa slipping up are very, very slim. Although Hamilton is on his second engine, the McLaren has an excellent reliability record.

I think that Hamilton and Massa will both be on the podium in Brazil.

The constructors championship is still up for grabs but I think Ferrari have 1.9 hands on it at present. The likely hood that McLaren will get a one two (after not having both cars on the podium all season) is very slim. As a McLaren fan I don't mind giving them the constructors trophy as consolation.

The circuit itself is fast and flowing which tends to suit Ferrari (McLaren are better on stop-go circuits).

Let's look at the stats:

• 71 laps
• A lap distance of 2.677 miles
• 2007 Winner: Kimi Raikkonen
• 2007 Pole: Felipe Massa
• Lap Record: 1.11:473 (Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams F1, 2004)

I'm looking forward to the race and for once this season I hope my predictions are correct.

1. Felipe Massa

2. Kimi Raikkonen

3. Lewis Hamilton

4. Fernando Alonso

5. Robert Kubica

6. Sebastien Vettel

7. Heikki Kovalainen

8. Timo Glock

Before I go, I would like to give a special mention David Coulthard and say that his career has been stunning and F1 will miss such a truthful character, talented driver and out and out gentleman.

Also, for us in the UK, it is ITV's last race for the time being so I would like to say thanks for bringing us Formula One for the past 10 years.

And finally, a very special thanks to Bleacher Report, which has allowed me to display my work and progress as a writer during the 2008 Formula One Season and Beijing Summer Olympics. Captain Z and his troops will never be put out of business or replaced!