Bernie Ecclestone jetted off to São Paulo this week for the climax to what has been an annus incredibilis for Formula One. “It’s been great,” says the man who runs the sport. “We have got to the end of the line with three people in the running to win the championship.”

Lewis Hamilton, British motor racing’s boy wonder, will take his place on the grid of the Interlagos circuit on Sunday with a narrow four-point lead over reigning champion Fernando Alonso, his McLaren team mate and bitter rival.