F1 Brazilian Grand Prix 2014 live: Latest news and action from Interlagos as Nico Rosberg attempts to get the better of Lewis Hamilton

Follow lap-by-lap updates of the Brazilian Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the 2014 season

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg (Getty Images)

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg resume their championship battle around the Interlagos track in Sao Paulo.

It was Rosberg who took the spoils on Saturday as he dominated both practice and qualifying to pip Hamilton to pole position. The German has certainly had the better of his Mercedes team-mate here in Brazil, but he is certainly on the back foot in the championship standings.

Hamilton holds a 24 point lead over Rosberg after reeling off five consecutive wins in Monza, Singapore, Suzuka, Sochi and Austin. Although Hamilton cannot win the Drivers' Championship today, her can stretch his lead to 49 points should he win and Rosberg fail to finish, with 50 points on offer at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

There will be 18 cars on the grid again today with both Marussia and Caterham absent once more. Marussia ceased trading earlier in the week, while Caterham are looking to use funding from fans to make it to Abu Dhabi.

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Today's starting grid:

1 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes GP 1mins 10.023secs,

2 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr)Mercedes GP 1:10.056,

3 Felipe Massa(Bra)Williams 1:10.247,

4 Valtteri Bottas(Fin)Williams 1:10.305,

5 Jenson Button(Gbr)McLaren 1:10.930,

6 Sebastian Vettel(Ger)Red Bull 1:10.938,

7 Kevin Magnussen(Den)McLaren 1:10.969,

8 Fernando Alonso(Spa)Ferrari 1:10.977,

9 Daniel Ricciardo(Aus)Red Bull 1:11.075,

10 Kimi Raikkonen(Fin)Ferrari 1:11.099,

11 Esteban Gutierrez(Mex)Sauber-Ferrari 1:11.591,

12 Nico Hulkenberg(Ger)Force India 1:11.976,

13 Adrian Sutil(Ger)Sauber-Ferrari 1:12.099,

14 Daniil Kvyat(Rus)Scuderia Toro Rosso No Time,

15 Romain Grosjean(Fra)Lotus F1 Team 1:12.037,

16 Jean-Eric Vergne(Fra)Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:12.040,

17 Sergio Perez(Mex)Force India 1:12.076,

18 Pastor Maldonado(Ven) Lotus F1 Team 1:12.233

Note: Daniil Kvyat and Sergio Perez have seven-place grid penalties, Kvyat's is the remainder of his engine change penalty from the United States Grand Prix, while Perez is demoted for causing a collision with Adrian Sutil at the United States Grand Prix. They will start 17th and 18th.