Just to throw this out there, and I hope I haven't got it all wrong:

Hamilton would need an 11-point lead to seal it in Shanghai, i.e. he needs to finish 6 points ahead of Massa (1st vs 5th, 2nd vs 7th, 3rd vs unplaced).

If Hamilton had a 10-point lead after Shanghai, a point-less finish in Brazil coupled with a Massa win would mean a tie on points and Massa would be the champion, from having more wins regardless of whether Hammy wins in Shanghai.

The precise formula:
Right now, Massa has 5 wins to Hamilton's 4 wins. So if Hamilton were to win in Shanghai but Massa finished 4th, Hamilton would be exactly 10 points ahead with the two drivers tied at 5 wins each. Then if Massa wins in Brazil and Hamilton gets nothing, Massa has 6 wins to Hamilton's 5, with points tied. That would be even closer than Kimi's one-point win last year, although of course Kimi won it from two drivers.

I don't even want to try figuring out how close it could be if Kubica gets involved - but realistically he needs both Massa and Hamilton to collapse to have any chance.

Lewis won't be allowed to get 11 points ahead at Shanghai, if anything he will be penalised, crash out, or be given a stop go in order that Fellipe closes the gap further.

The aim will be to create a final show down in Brazil, where the already chosen winner, whoever that will be, takes the WDC. Ferrari will win the WCC regardless.

So even if Hamilton does something totally stupid and/or dangerous in Shanghai (for which there is ample precedent), any penalty he receives is evidence of fixing, and not deserved?

It would be pretty exciting to watch Brazil if China would finish like this:

1.Kubica
2.Kova
3.Heidfeld
..
6.Massa
..
Kimi & LH out of points

Then the WDC & WCC with one race to go would be:

1.Hamilton 84
2.Massa 83
3.Kubica 82

1.Ferrari 145
2.BMW 144
3.McLaren 143

Nice one. But I find it hard to imagine Kubica winning in Shanghai.

The FIA have a huge vested interest in the championship being decided at the final race. They generally manage to engineer this situation using the mechanism of off-track stewarding decisions, race-bans etc. They've been doing this for quite a long time, with a remarkably high degree of success. Certainly this was going on in 1994, and it seems to be getting (if possible) ever less subtle. No reason at all to suspect that they won't manage it this year.
If I were a gambling man, I'd put money on Lewis getting a 10-place grid penalty in Shanghai.

Kova 2nd??? Only if Kimi and Lewis take each other out and punt Felipe down a few spots.

No, if random drivers get penalized for freak reasons just to hand out points to certain other drivers, THEN you can call it it fixed. Wanna bet if it happens? I say it will.

Never say never... The last 4 races have produced some "interesting" results. However, we're probably due for a "normal" race here soon.

Your innocence and gullability are very sweet but do you no favours

Stranger things have happened. Yesterday.

Actually it's not that hard when you recall that Kubica would made it last year if the car wouldn't broke...

BTW: will Lewis get a new engine or he will have to use the one from Japan? If the latter then there is a possibility it will fail as it did for Heiki Brazil would be epic...

He led the race last year and was heading to win it but his gear-box failed. So maybe this time...

Anyway, I love the scenario!

Nice one, but what about this:


1.Kubica
2.Kova
3.Heidfeld
4.Alonso
5.Massa
..
Kimi & LH out of points

Then the WDC with one race to go would be:

1.Massa 84
2.Hamilton 84
3.Kubica 82

Since Interlagos is a track that allows overtaking, I imagine how intense the battle would be!

Here's hope it doesnt finish at China!! Go Massa!! Go Kubica!!

Neither does your cynicism.

Doesn't matter if Massa is one or zero points behind Lewis. Either way, it would be a case of whoever finishes in front of who, so long as one of them is in the points.

Here's hoping it happens and it happens fairly