Formula One: Who is the 2010 Champion- Webber leads, followed by Hamilton, Vettlel, Button and Alonso
This year’s drivers’ title battle is a five-horse race between Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, and Fernando Alonso of Ferrari. Currently leading the championship is Australia’s Mark Webber at 161 points. Lewis Hamilton, recently ousted by the Australian from the championship lead in Hungary, is 4 points adrift of the top spot. Behind Hamilton stands Webber’s Red Bull team mate Sebastian Vettel at 151 points. Hamilton’s McLaren partner Jenson Button meanwhile is not far behind with 147 points, followed closely by two times world champion Fernando Alonso. With seven races still to go and just 20 points between the top five championship contenders, the battle for the 2010 driver’s title could not have been tighter.
In late August, fresh from its traditional summer break, the Formula One community will travel to Belgium for the 2010 Belgian Grand Prix. The action at Spa-Francorchamps will begin unwinding on the 27th of August, starting with the practice sessions and on 29th August, the Belgian Grand Prix race results will be decided. Red Bull and Ferrari, in particular, have reason to go into the Belgian campaign with high expectations, since the numerous high-speed corners at Spa are well suited to the state-of-the-art RB6 and F10 makes. Although the lengthy straight leading up to the Les Combes is expected to favour the McLaren MP4-25s, it is reasonable to believe that will not be enough of a blessing to provide a podium position for either Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button.
September 12th, 2010, will mark the Italian Grand Prix race day. According to most commentators, the plentiful straights on the Monza circuit will bring the best out of the McLaren MP4-25’s combination of robust Mercedes engine and F-Duct. Red Bull might be at a disadvantage with their less powerful Renault engine and Ferrari will certainly be rooting for a podium standing at their home event.
Then later that month The Formula One family will head to Asia to contest the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay, Singapore. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso has lifted the Singapore trophy before, albeit amid some controversy, and seems to have a good chance of emulating that feat this year. Red Bull too appears to be well-equipped for the campaign. However, McLaren have cause for some concern as the night race might not do any special favours to the MP4-25.
The Japanese Grand Prix race is scheduled to take place on the 10th of October at the historic Suzuka circuit. The RB6 promises to provide great entertainment on the swift and flowing circuit at Suzuka. Vettel and Webber will no doubt come under stiff competition from Ferrari and McLaren, and a rain drenched qualifying and racing session will definitely be a blessing for Button and Hamilton.
On 24th October, the results of the 2010 Korean campaign will be decided at the Yeongam track. The possible outcome of the race is difficult to predict as squads have little information about the circuit at Yeongam, so the results could be a surprise. However, since the Red Bull RB6 has so far shone at almost all venues, it is perhaps reasonable to assume the Austrian team will not disappoint in Korea (unless, of course, team rivalry blows it again for Christian Horner’s team the way it did in Turkey). Ferrari, who have apparently caught up with Red Bull Racing’s technical upgrades in past couple of races, can be expected to give their title rivals a run for their money.
The season’s penultimate run will take place in Brazil at Interlagos on November 7th. Mark Webber, who won here last year, no doubt has his sights set on a repeat of last year’s stint. In addition, to conclude it all, 2010’s final race is scheduled to be at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, where Red Bull enjoyed a one-two result in 2009.
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