Formula One is in Sao Paulo for this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.
Here, Press Association Sport looks at five talking points ahead of the penultimate race of the season.
1. So, first things first, I hear Lewis Hamilton has had a difficult week?
Yes, the sport's recently crowned triple world champion has been battling a fever and was also involved in a car crash on Monday night. Hamilton, who revealed nobody was injured after he hit a stationary vehicle in Monaco, missed a sponsors' event on Wednesday in Brazil. That led the local press to speculate that he would be absent from this weekend's race. But the 30-year-old was told to delay his flight to Brazil by one day on medical grounds, and he insists he will be firing on all cylinders.
2. And what is his record like at the famous Interlagos track?
Surprisingly, it is not very good. Indeed in his eight previous attempts here Hamilton is yet to take to the top step of the podium. He finished second behind Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg last year and was vying for a certain win with Nico Hulkenberg in 2012 before a race-ending collision. It should not be forgotten that he clinched his first title in Brazil seven years ago, but he only crossed the line fifth on that unforgettable day. While the title may be done and dusted, you can be sure Hamilton will do all he can to end his winless streak in the backyard of his great hero Ayrton Senna on Sunday.
3. What is the atmosphere like at Mercedes?
In a word: frosty. Hamilton appeared pretty miffed after the final race in Mexico amid speculation that Mercedes contrived Rosberg's first victory in nearly five months. Hamilton was annoyed that his team hauled him in for a second stop, but after Rosberg was told to pit, Mercedes had no choice but to call the Briton in, too. Hamilton also claimed that his team have "felt the need to be extra warm" to Rosberg after he won the title in Austin, and said the German is yet to congratulate him on his third championship. Oo-er.
4. It sounds as though the United States Grand Prix may be canned.
Unfortunately yes. The race, which has been an instant hit on the calendar since it was introduced in 2012, faces an uncertain future. The Texas state government has slashed funding by $5million (£3.3million), and that, coupled with falling ticket sales, means the Circuit of the Americas track could lose its place in the Formula One schedule. Bobby Epstein, the COTA chairman, said this week: "To use a technical term, I think we're screwed."
5. And Susie Wolff announced her retirement last week.
Yes, but we can not really be surprised. The Scot, married to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, became the first female to compete in a grand prix weekend in more than two decades when she took to the cockpit of her Williams in practice at Silverstone last year. But her hopes of becoming the first woman to start a Formula One race since Italian Lella Lombardi in 1976 suffered a huge setback when Adrian Sutil was signed up by Williams after Valtteri Bottas sustained an injury in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix. The move by Williams appeared to scupper any long-term hope Wolff had of competing for the team in a race. Tellingly, she said: "Do I think F1 is ready for a competitive female racing driver that can perform at the highest level? Yes. Do I think it is achievable as a woman? Most definitely. Do I think it will happen soon? Sadly no."
Source: PA
