Formula 1's Americas triple-header wraps up in Brazil this weekend and, after thrilling battles in Texas and Mexico City, we can expect more of the same in Sao Paulo.
Max Verstappen saw his championship lead trimmed by 10 points last weekend, but the Red Bull driver still has 47 in hand over McLaren's Lando Norris with four race weekends to go.
It's a sprint weekend this time, meaning there are more points on the table, but the format has been kind to Verstappen, who has won all four of the shorter races this season, most recently two weeks ago in Austin.
To add further spice, a stormy weekend is forecast with a high probability of rain during the race.
- MAX VERSTAPPEN PODIUM FINISH
- FERNANDO ALONSO POINTS FINISH
- FRANCO COLAPINTO POINTS FINISH
Champion Eyeing Podium Return
With a 47-point cushion and only four race weekends remaining, it looks as though Verstappen will do enough to hold off Norris and claim his fourth drivers' title in a row, especially as regular wins continue to elude the McLaren pilot.
Red Bull ace Verstappen outperformed his car by qualifying second in Mexico and drove like a maniac trying to defend in the early laps. He was rightly penalised for those antics, but such was his lack of race pace he would not likely have done much better than his finishing position of sixth anyway.
Verstappen is better judged on his podium finishes in Singapore and Texas in the two previous races and he looks a decent pick to get back into the top three.
Red Bull began the season as the clear top car before McLaren took over, but a recent surge from Ferrari has seen them looking quickest in recent races, so the constructors' championship is set for a grandstand finish.
While Red Bull have slipped to third in the teams' standings, Verstappen's brilliance continues to shine through.
Sprint weekends have been particularly strong for the Dutchman, who finished third in the main event in Austin after winning the sprint, and he can expect a better showing than in Mexico.
Rain also tends to put more emphasis on driver skill than machinery, and Verstappen claimed a brilliant second place in ever-changing conditions at Silverstone in the summer on a weekend when his car looked particularly uncompetitive.
MAX VERSTAPPEN PODIUM FINISH
Alonso Can Make Experience Count
Fernando Alonso celebrated his 400th F1 weekend in Mexico but mechanical trouble brought his race to a premature end.
It has been a disappointing season for Aston Martin, but Alonso has still managed 12 top-ten finishes.
The two-time world champion has never won in Brazil but has nine podium finishes in Sao Paulo, including after a superb battling drive last year.
Four of the last six times Alonso has seen the chequered flag he was in the points and, after his team-mate Lance Stroll just missed out in Mexico, finishing 11th, veteran Alonso has a great chance to take his tally higher on Sunday.
FERNANDO ALONSO POINTS FINISH
Colapinto Making A Big Impression
At the other end of the experience scale is Williams driver Franco Colapinto, making just his sixth career start.
The car is in the lower half of the grid performance-wise, yet Colapinto has already twice finished in the points and come home no lower than 12th in any of his races.
Racing close to home could give the Argentinian a boost and he looks a value pick to finish in the top ten and score more points.
FRANCO COLAPINTO POINTS FINISH
