Now that was some weekend. Friday practice was dry, and as usual, the Red Bulls set the pace. But it was wet for qualifying, especially Q1. The track was very wet, but the rain stopped during the first session, and the track steadily dried.
The usual backmarkers were eliminated in Q1, and the only major surprise in Q2 was Jenson Button not advancing to the last round, with everyone still on intermediates. With the track still drying, the question was, would it get dry enough for slicks, and who would be the first to take the chance? It looked like the usual Red Bull front row until, with just a few minutes to go, Nico Hulkenberg made his first mark on the sport by snagging the pole, with Vettel second, Webber third, Hamilton fourth, and Alonso fifth. To make an exciting day almost surreal, someone apparently targeted Jenson Button on the way back to his hotel. A carjacking attempt ensued, with Button escaping due to the talents of his highly-trained driver. With the race forecast to be dry, it was electric to anticipate what might happen in turn one.
Before we get to the race, let's consider this. The points system was revamped this year, to put a higher premium on winning, and on finishing on the podium. Did this work? Following Korea, 5 drivers still had a chance to win the title, with Alonso on 231, Webber 220, Hamilton 210, Vettel 206, and Button 189.
Had the points system been the same as last year, Hamilton would have led with 92, followed by Alonso with 91, Webber with 88, Vettel with 83, and Button with 77. Interesting eh?
The same top five, slightly reshuffled, and the same 4 still with a chance after Brazil. If the old system were still in place after Sunday's race, the numbers would be Hamilton and Alonso 97, Webber 96 and Vettel 93. Even more potential excitement for Abu Dhabi wouldn't you say?
So, to the race itself. There were no weather issues, as the rain had departed, and it was warm and dry throughout. Hulkenberg made a decent start from his surprising pole position, but Vettel and Webber quickly got past him, as did Hamilton, with Alonso right behind. Hamilton had a slight wobble on lap 2, and Alonso shot past, always ready to pounce. Button had trouble advancing from his eleventh qualifying position, and quickly realised that his season is now over, despite his ultimately finishing in the points.
Vettel and Webber continued at the front unchallenged, with everyone waiting for some evidence of team orders to emerge, with Webber swooping past Vettel to put their driver with the best chance to win the championship in the best situation to win, but it never happened. The best opportunity was after Liuzzi's heavy crash at turn 2 brought out a safety car. But as it fell after the pitstops, Vettel was in the lead, with a now-lapped Hulkenburg and Kubica between him and Webber, which prevented Webber from getting a good run at his teammate when it went back to green. So it continued to the end, with Vettel winning and Webber second, which locked up the constructor's title for Red Bull, but with Alonso third, he continues to lead the championship, with Hamilton on life support, and Vettel and Webber left to hope for a minor miracle in Abu Dhabi.
Considering Red Bull's surprising lack of strategy in Brazil, perhaps they will order Webber to take Alonso off at turn one in Abu Dhabi so Vettel can win the title.
The weather in Abu Dhabi should be warm and dry, the circuit is flat but interesting.
Alonso can weather another Red Bull 1-2, as long as he finishes third he'll be the champion, and Webber and Vettel can talk it all over in the motorhome.
Jim Casey
sign in