Brazilian Grand Prix 2014: B/R Experts Predict Pole, Race Winner and More

The race to the chequered flag this season continues with Formula One's Brazilian Grand Prix.

The forecast suggests rain could be a factor this weekend—but will that do anything to prevent the dominant Mercedes leading the way?

Elsewhere on the pitch there'll be a host of intriguing subplots, from the possible culmination of Jenson Button's Formula One career to the future of Fernando Alonso, and the final adjustments to the 2015 grid.

Here are our best guesses as to how the penultimate Grand Prix of the season will pan out:

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Mark Patterson: Why back against the man who's won five races in a row? Nico Rosberg has been a match for Lewis Hamilton in qualifying, but has struggled to live with the Brit on Sundays. But this season surely has a final twist up its sleeve, and Rosberg narrowing the gap going into the final (double-pointed) race of the season could make the finale very, very interesting.

Oliver Harden: Strange things happen at Interlagos, which makes one suspect that Daniel Ricciardo—the only man to take advantage of strange things at other races in 2014—could take a fourth win, especially as some Spa-like silliness between the Mercedes drivers cannot be ruled out. Elsewhere, expect Jean-Eric Vergne to continue his fight for a Toro Rosso lifeline by excelling in wet conditions.

Matthew Walthert: Lewis Hamilton can't keep winning forever, can he? Maybe not, but this won't be the weekend to end his streak. Nico Rosberg might get the better of him in qualifying again, but Hamilton has been unbeatable in race trim lately. And how about Felipe Massa to grab the fastest lap (and maybe a place on the podium) to give the home crowd something to cheer about?

Neil James: Nico Rosberg needs to do something to give himself half a chance of taking the championship without having to rely on double points. Victory in Brazil would do just that—but though pole is within his grasp, I don't see it happening in the race. Once again Lewis Hamilton will find a way to defeat his team-mate, claiming the "moral" title along the way.

Bob Margolis: As the season winds down the tension gets tighter between the Mercedes drivers. Hamilton’s edge in the points is tenuous at best, and the double-points finale looms large. Hamilton must win on Sunday, as an insurance policy on the title. Rosberg would love nothing better than to come from behind and steal the title in the finale. The heat and the new track surface will offer the real challenge this weekend as drivers fight for grip. 

B/R Expert Picks: Brazilian GP

Columnist	Mark Patterson	Oliver Harden	Matthew Walthert	Neil James	Bob Margolis
Pole Position	Nico Rosberg	Nico Rosberg	Nico Rosberg	Nico Rosberg	Lewis Hamilton
Race Winner	Nico Rosberg	Daniel Ricciardo	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton
Fastest Lap	Valtteri Bottas	Fernando Alonso	Felipe Massa	Nico Rosberg	Nico Rosberg
Top Team	Mercedes	Red Bull	Mercedes	Mercedes	Mercedes
Number of Finishers	15	13	14	14	15

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Here's how we did in Austin and what the results of the race did to our scores so far this season: 

B/R Expert Picks: After United States GP

Columnist	Mark Patterson	Oliver Harden	Matthew Walthert	Neil James	Bob  Margolis	RESULT
Pole Position	Lewis Hamilton	Nico Rosberg	Lewis Hamilton	Nico Rosberg	Lewis Hamilton	Nico Rosberg
Race Winner	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton
Fastest Lap	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton	Lewis Hamilton	Nico Rosberg	Sebastian Vettel
Top Team	Mercedes	Mercedes	Mercedes	Mercedes	Mercedes	Mercedes
Number of Finishers	15	16	15	15	14	15
United States Points	5	5	5	5	3
Points This Season	42	44	44	44	-*

How the Scores Are Calculated

The right answer earns you one point, except in the case of total finishers, where you can be two cars either side. However, if you predict the exact correct number of finishers, you pick up two points.

Feel free to play along in the comments to see how you fare against our predictions.

*Bob Margolis does not have an overall score as he joined our predictions midway through the season.