Blundell's view: Brazilian Grand Prix.

Hi folks...

Well, that's almost it for another year and, at the moment, it looks as if Fernando Alonso will become the 2006 Formula One world champion in Brazil.

It is a remarkable turnaround for the Spaniard - and Renault - in the space of just one weekend. Alonso is now in a very strong position and it looks highly unlikely that he won't win the title this weekend. Having said though, after what we all saw in the last race in Japan, you never know. It is going to be interesting to see how things shape up on Sunday and who actually comes out top.

The Interlagos track, where it all will unfold, is a difficult circuit. It is quite bumpy and tough on the drivers' necks as it is anti-clockwise. It has got some good corners, such as turn one, and there are some high g-force bits as well. Weather-wise, it can be quite unpredictable and, as usual, rain can really spice things up. The fans there are always very passionate and the atmosphere is always electric. All in all, it is great going there.

I must say I thought that the last grand prix, in Japan, was pretty good and, hopefully, that bodes well for Brazil.

It was a shame in some ways that Schumacher's engine failure occurred when it did, as we would have been in for a good battle if that hadn't have happened. It has been edge of your seat stuff in the latter half of the season in terms of Renault versus Ferrari - and this final battle should be just as good, especially with the constructors' a lot more open than the drivers'.

Ferrari will be all out, with both cars, to try and secure the manufacturers' title and, while it will need a bit of an upset for that to happen, as Renault has a nine-point lead, I can't wait to see how 'chapter 18' unfolds.

It is going to be a thrilling race and, if Renault pulls off the drivers' and Ferrari pulls off the constructors', maybe that will be some consolation for Schumacher. I think, at the end of all of it though, it will be at the back of his mind that he could probably have taken his eighth drivers' title had the season gone differently at the beginning.

Of the rest, McLaren will be desperate to try and get a win under its belt. It is a long time since the team has not won at least one grand prix during a season - you have to go back to 1996 to see that.

Kimi Raikkonen is driving very well and would definitely like to go out on a high before he joins Ferrari. The team seemed to make a bit more progress during testing in Jerez, but I think it will be hard pushed to match Renault and Ferrari in terms of outright performance.

Pedro de la Rosa will also want to perform well, as it may be his last opportunity to really stake his claim for a race seat in 2007.

Honda shone two weeks ago in Japan and, along with McLaren, was best of the rest, with Jenson Button taking fourth, ten seconds or so up on Kimi at the finish. He should be able to get points again this weekend.

As for Rubens Barrichello, like Felipe Massa, it will be his home event, although I can't see him doing especially well. He may like going 'home', but his record at Interlagos has never been very good and the pressure seems to get to him. As such, I don't think he will be quite strong enough to finish in the top six.

Toyota and BMW Sauber were both very solid at Suzuka and, with just one point between them in the constructors', it will be good to see who wins the battle to take fifth spot.

Toyota did its usual trick in Japan - namely that it qualified well (in third and fourth) and then just dropped back in the race to finish sixth and seventh. That is pretty much the norm for the team and it really needs to step up and capitalise on its qualifying performances a bit more now.

BMW Sauber has done a very good job this year, especially from the halfway point onwards. Robert Kubica coming in seems to have ramped up Nick Heidfeld and they definitely seem to be making some good progress. The team is consistent and reliable, which is obviously a good effort. With just a one point lead over Toyota though, it definitely cannot relax and will need to maintain form to keep fifth.

Both Williams and Red Bull Racing only got one car home at Suzuka and I can't see their fortunes changing this time out.

RBR has become stale as it is very focused on next year. Doing that can be good in some respects, but it can be bad in others as you can get left behind when too much emphasis is put on next year. You need to make sure you continue to develop this season, so that you know where you are going for the next. The team has taken a bit of a risky strategy.

Williams, meanwhile, has been flat-out trying to develop what it has got available, and the Grove boys have made some impression during the season. They have just been stifled with some reliability issues, which has been quite costly. To be just eighth in the manufacturers' will really hurt and I can't imagine the team will have a very good Christmas party. It hasn't exactly had much to celebrate.

For the tailenders, Super Aguri were in the limelight a bit more in Japan, with it being the team's home event - not to mention the fact that it has two Japanese drivers in Takuma Sato and Sakon Yamamoto. They put in a good showing, relative to what they have done this year, and it was a great achievement for them. It props them up nicely for Brazil, and for next season.

Spyker MF1 is obviously going through another element of change with new owners, and I think there is a lot going on there at the moment, putting in new names and faces and with a new emphasis on where it wants to be. The team has a new engine deal too - with Ferrari - and things look bright there.

At the end of the day though, the teams at the back haven't made any really big strides into the next level this season and that is somewhat of a disappointment. Toro Rosso has probably been a little more disappointing than most in that respect, in that it had a known quantity in the car and engine package. I thought it would have made a little bit more out of it, but it has struggled slightly with its young drivers not quite getting the job done as and when needed.

So, to sum up, I reckon Michael Schumacher will take pole position and win this weekend, buoyed up to go out on a positive note. I also think Massa will give the local fans lots to cheer about by taking second, with Alonso completing the podium. Then I'd go for Raikkonen, Giancarlo Fisichella and Button.

Enjoy the race... and remember, for those of you in Europe, it is an evening 'kick-off'. I'll be there with ITV F1 to give you my thoughts as and when it happens on track.

MB