Alonso has the last laugh with victory in Korea
- Published on Oct 24th, 2010 by Adam MilleneuveFernando Alonso will be massively chuffed with his result today, not only is yet another victory to his already impressive tally, but he's now in the lead of the championship for the 2010 title, jumping both Vettel and Webber.
Alonso back on top © Shell Motorsport Media
Today's Korean GP nearly didn't happen, the start was delayed, eventually got underway behind the safety car, only to be stopped until over an hour later than planned when the race finally got going behind, again behind the safety car. Just as the racing finally got going Mark Webber lost control of his car, stacked it in the wall and then took out Rosberg too - this incident was just the beginning of an chaotic race...
After the second safety car had been and gone, Vettel seemed to have the race in the bag, being able to comfortably lead Alonso and Hamilton. With the track drying out steadily, Button took a gamble and switched to intermediate tyres, only to come out behind a four car battle and was consequently held up badly. A few laps later, after the rest of the front runners pitted, both leaders came in for fresh rubber and Alonso slipped to 3rd behind Hamilton following some pit stop confusion.
With 44 of the 55 laps completed, Vettel called for the race to be stopped due to poor light conditions, his call was left unheard and only a few laps later the floor of his car seem to give way and a huge ploom of engine smoke and fire followed, gifting Fernando the lead and Lewis 2nd place.
As for the championship, Webber and Vettel obviously lost out by a great deal today, and Button is still only just (mathematically) in with a hope of retaining his title.
Here's the final result and there's more analysis and comment to follow later - what did you all make of today's race? Use the comments and let us know!
oh and i’d love to see a mark webber movie he is the most...
Comments and Discussion
I'm disappointed Vettel's engine went. If it didn't, we would have seen him either taking a strong win, or being overtaken by Alonso. That would have been a nice fight for the finish!
Amazing race was well worth the wait! Alonso now the clear favourite. Pity it was decided by an engine problem but that's racing I guess. Quality drive from Lewis too, kept his nose clean and is still in contention.
Crazy for good and bad reasons. It should've started 20mins earlier than it did, and not got to the stage where daylight was issue, but nevermind.
I wouldn't class it as a classic, more as an oddity GP.
Not surprised Vettel was calling for the race to be stopped, he may have already had some warning from the car that the engine was starting to go. He was driving very well up until that point though.
Webber deserved to drop it for whining about the weather, and Rosberg was just unfortunate that Mark decided he didn't want to retire on his own.
Agree it should have started 20 minutes earlier but I think you're being slightly hard on Webber - he came out and admitted his error and said that the conditions were fine...
I'm not talking about the spin, people are allowed to make mistakes. I'm talking about him steering right after his contact with the wall, what did he hope to achieve apart from reversing across the track into the paths of others?
Well, to a certain extent i AM talking about the spin with regards to deserving a non-finish. it was just what happened right after he spun that was disappointing. He knew Hamilton was not far behind for instance...
That's a pretty big call to suggest Webber deliberately tried to take Hamilton out.
Do you think he'd deliberately put himself in the firing line of a Formula 1 car, endangering himself, his competitors and marshalls for the sake of someone who was 27 points behind him in the championship and in 5th position in the race at that stage? It was a pretty hefty shunt with Rosberg in the end.
Massive shout. I haven't seen the incident again but I do believe and would like to think you're talking nonsense.
At last the real world champion leads the tally....love the way everything favored Alonso today n massa shows up big time...quite happy that schumi came up after a real long time:)....Unfortunate Rosberg...Bulls Bullied:):):)
Alonso's greatest Korea Victory?
Brilliant race though
Wow Dave, that's quite big accusation you make there, especially considering Webber is one of the main men of the GPDA..
I just don't understand he turned right. The safest thing to do would've vbeen to keep the wheel straight.
But still, race re-run is on now; if we spot something new then i'll put my hands up.
Well. Maybe i was intially a little harsh, but while he didn't deliberately steer it onto the line, he didn't do all he could to avoid it.
Like hitting the brakes for example.
What a race. I loved it, but I had the benefit and not watching it live, so missed all the tedium with safety cars and delayed starts.
Hamilton got VERY lucky today. Both Webber's [spin out] and Vettel's [engine failure] DNF gave much needed points to the Brit.
And whilst I still don't particularly like Alonso, he has been driving fantastically of late. I'd hate for him to win the title over Hamilton or Webber, but whatever, may the best man win.
Game on!
Sauber announce their car for Kobayashi next year...
[img]http://www.rankopedia.com/CandidatePix/81251.gif[/img]
Maybe you are. After Webber hit the wall, one of his front wheels was stuck in the air from an impact. I'm not sure what more he could have done myself, but there you go. I don't think any of it was deliberate, more out of shock of hitting the wall if anything?
It was an odd race, not terribly enjoyable but interesting with the massive twist at the end.
I just can't believe that after every race the championship gets turned on it's head!
Rosberg seems to agree with Dave!
http://twitter.com/nico_rosberg
To an extent perhaps Webber could have done more to avoid running back to the track! Then again, events develop so quickly ... only Webber could really tell.
Word up for the little guys - Senna's 14th place lifts HRT above Virgin in the Constructor's Championship