Barring any major hiccups, this year’s Formula One title has come down to a battle between two drivers - Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso - each vying to become the sport’s youngest triple champion.
Reigning double champion Vettel took the title lead from Alonso by winning last weekend’s Korean Grand Prix, and the Red Bull driver carries a narrow six point advantage (with 100 points still up for grabs) over his Ferrari rival with four races to go: India, Abu Dhabi, the US and Brazil.
After a very topsy-turvy season with the first seven races all won by different drivers, and then the advantage briefly going to McLaren, Red Bull have nosed ahead slightly in the past few races and in Korea were the first team to score a one-two this season.
Vettel has taken full advantage of this slight upturn in his Renault-powered car’s form, and won the past three races in dominant fashion. His team mate Mark Webber, despite taking pole position in Korea, has been overshadowed by the young German and now lies fifth in the standings, 63 points adrift.
MIND GAMES
Red Bull insists Webber won’t be under any team orders to stay behind his team mate in the final four races, but with Vettel in the form he’s in right now it probably won’t be necessary anyway.
Ferrari continue to insist their car is far from the best, although their laptimes indicate they’re only very slightly off Red Bull’s pace and ahead of McLaren and Lotus, so it could just be some mind games being played by the Scuderia. Double champion Fernando Alonso has the talent and the car to scoop the title from under Red Bull’s nose, and as this capricious season has so often shown us, the next race could see lady luck switching her allegiances again.
Ferrari principal Stefano Domenicali said: “Anybody who thinks that losing the lead in the Drivers’ championship might leave us discouraged is making a big mistake.
Ferrari overtook McLaren with Alonso’s and Felipe Massa’s third and fourth places in Korea to go second in the Constructors’ championship.
“Clearly at the moment Red Bull might seem unbeatable in everybody’s eyes, but I can remember the same thing being said about McLaren on the Sunday afternoon in Singapore. The wheel turns quickly this year.”
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Ferrari announced on Tuesday that they’d be retaining Massa’s services in 2013. The Brazilian’s future was in doubt after a dismal start to the season, but a recent run of form, including second place in Japan two weeks ago, has gained him another season with the prancing horse.
In other driver-swap news, Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg has signed up with Sauber next year to replace Sergio Perez, who moves to McLaren to replace Lewis Hamilton, who moves to Mercedes to replace the retiring Michael Schumacher.
McLaren’s Hamilton and Jenson Button, respectively fourth and sixth in the title chase, have all but conceded they’re out of championship contention after a dismal showing in Korea. Button was shunted out in a first-lap accident while Hamilton grittily hung on to finish 10th in an ill-handling car caused by a failed anti-roll bar, scoring a single point.
Through sheer consistency Kimi Raikkonen is third for Lotus, but the 2007 champion is 48 points off the lead and without a win yet this year.
However Lotus believe that a new exhaust upgrade introduced in Korea could bear some fruit. - Star Motoring