Red Bull on charge after Japanese Grand Prix
In the land of the Rising Sun the hopes of some dipped markedly after the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
Sebastian Vettel won the race, while Red Bull teammate Mark Webber came second and the Red Bull team’s one-two means that Webber is now on 220 points, 14 clear at the top of the championship. Fernando Alonso, who came third in the Ferrari, is now second in the standings on 206 points. McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button came fourth and sixth meaning they are unlikely to figure in the title run-in.
Vettel started the race in pole position and was comfortable throughout. The drivers had to qualify on the day of the race because of the rain.
Lucas di Grassi had a heavy crash at the start which delayed the race. When the race finally did stat Vitaly Petrov and Nico Hulkenberg collided on the first lap while Felipe Massa and Vitantonio Liuzzi collided soon after that.
The safety car came out on the second lap and the cars fell into the order they were to finish in. Vettel and Webber spent the rest of the race fighting for first while the other three battled for third.
Everybody pitted other than Button who took the lead, but then everyone came out and caught him up.
Vettel took the lead and Hamilton had to finish the race without third gear as his car suffered mechanical failures but he held on for fifth.
The result of this race sees Webber sitting top with three races to go. Alonso and Vettel are both on 206 points so really the championship is between those three because although it is mathematically still possible for Hamilton or Button to win the title it is extremely unlikely.
It is hard to tell which one of these other drivers will take the championship because it is so tight and a different driver seems to be in control every week.
Last week it looked like it might be Alonso but the Red Bulls look much faster than everybody now and so one of them will most likely take it.
Tags: