Alonso gifted pole at Korean Grand Prix, Red Bull crashes out
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso effectively crossed the finish line ahead of the pack to take the chequered flag this Sunday.
The Ferrari driver qualified 3rd on the grid and went on to win the race as the rain-hit Korean Grand Prix saw a spectacle never seen before this season – Both Red Bull drivers suffered a double retirement.
The Yeongam track was already criticized for its lack of grip. However, with persistent rain, it became increasingly difficult to handle as cars twitched their way on the new layer of asphalt. Things did not improve as Mark Webber, who started out in pole
position, literally threw away his lead when he crashed out on lap 19. His teammate, Sebastian Vettel, on the other hand, had relatively less involvement with his early retirement. The German driver suffered a blown engine nine laps from home. He was effectively
leading the race when his machinery let go.
The double heartbreak for team Red Bull enabled Fernando Alonso to cash in and the Spaniard accepted the invitation, only too gladly. The Ferrari driver effectively moves 11 points ahead of Mark Webber in the standings. Lewis Hamilton took second place and
finds himself 21 points behind the Scarlet team driver.
The Grand Prix saw a total of 4 safety car periods. What was expected to be the start of a new era in the multi million dollar sport at Korea, was dampened by the overnight rain that forced the FIA to take the necessary precautions as the race was started
behind the safety car.
However, after a nervous start behind the safety car, conditions became all too severe to continue further. The race was subsequently red flagged which meant that all drivers were supposed to head back in their respective grid positions and wait for the
rain to ease up a little.
Lewis Hamilton was a little too keen for the restart and looked to get a move on finally without the safety car. However, on the first lap with the restart, 18th overall, it immediately went downhill for him as he lost his fourth position to the
young German driver from Mercedes, Nico Rosberg.
Hamilton’s stay in 5th was a breif one as the next lap saw the first ‘major’ accident of the day. Mark Webber’s Red Bull caught the kerb on turn 12 and went straight into the wall. However, that was not it as the car literally rebounded back on
track and into the path of Nico Rosberg. On such short notice, the Mercedes driver stood frozen in his cockpit and could do nothing other than see his car crash right into the already knocked up Red Bull. The race for both drivers came to a premature end.
Mark Webber was realistic enough to admit that it was his fault at the end of the race and confessed that he believed that positions were secondary considering that the season was drawing to a close. For the Australian, what mattered were points collected
at the end of a race weekend – a feat that evaded him on the 3rd last Grand Prix of the 2010 season.
There were more ‘accidents’ to boot. Lucas di Grassi headed for the wall, only not to comeback again. Buemi had a collision with Timo Glock as the latter lost his front left wheel. Visibility was an added issue and something that the only remaining Red Bull
in first position complained most of all in the 42nd lap – a point at which full points could have been awarded had the race been called off. Moments later, Vettel bowed out of the race with a blown engine which meant Alonso could bag all 25 points
for team Ferrari.
Elsewhere, Felipe Massa was finally able to back the credentials of his Ferrari as he claimed the last spot of the podium. Michael Schumacher finished fourth. This was the German’s best finish this season. It was perhaps Jenson’s turn for mediocrity as he
could only manage a 12th in his McLaren.
It was an action-packed chapter of the Formula One season. The next race sees all 24 cars heading out to Brazil on the 11th of November.
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