10/10/2010
NEWS STORY
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As expected, Red Bull has locked out the front row for today's Japanese Grand Prix however, contrary to expectations both McLarens gave them a run for their money.
Sebastian Vettel starts from pole for the eighth time this season however, only once this season (Valencia) has he converted the prime starting slot into a win. On the other hand, teammate Mark Webber, who starts from second, has twice gone on to win from this position this year.
Due to a five-place grid penalty incurred after he changed the gearbox on his car, Hamilton is demoted to eighth place. However, the nature of the Suzuka track, combined with the Englishman's never-say-die approach, means he should not be written off. That said, having crashed out of the last two races, Hamilton might want to err on the side of caution today if he is to keep his title hopes alive.
While Fernando Alonso starts from fifth on the grid today it might be an idea to keep an eye on the man ahead of him, a man who has looked consistently strong all weekend, Robert Kubica. The Pole seems to get better and better and while he is not part of the title fight he will have no intention of rolling over for his Spanish rival.
Another man to watch today is Jenson Button, the real outsider in the title fight. Starting on the harder tyre - the only one of the front ten drivers to do so - he will be on the softer, faster tyre for the last phase of the race. Could this be another inspired tyre choice by the reigning world champion or will degradation be a problem
While Nico Rosberg and, to a lesser extent, his Mercedes teammate will be up there, keep an eye on the Williams duo especially Rubens Barrichello who, like a fine wine, appears to be getting better with age.
A disappointing Q2 saw Felipe Massa fail to make it through to Q3 however, expect the Brazilian to be on a charge this afternoon, even if this could mean some fun and games in the opening laps.
Suzuka is one of the drivers' favourite tracks and at a time when circuits are becoming ever more emasculated it is one that really stands out even if it too has been 'got at'.
The legendary Japanese track has hosted some epic races over the years, let's hope that today it can produce another thriller.
With Bernie Ecclestone insisting that the Korean Grand Prix will go ahead - even if the FIA has the last word - the 2010 titles cannot be decided here today, but at least one or two of the five contenders could fall by the wayside.
Other than the title fight however, a number of drivers have yet to secure deals for next season and for some of them, think Liuzzi or Buemi, this is a fine opportunity to make a good impression. We don't include Petrov because we think that's a done deal.
Twenty-five minutes before the race is due to get underway, there is drama when Lucas di Grassi goes off on the exit of 130R during a final pre-race installation lap. The car is badly damaged and it the Brazilian will play no further part in today's race.
Over the years we've seen a number of first lap incidents here so it is not unreasonable to expect that there might be some silliness this afternoon, especially with so many hot-headed young chargers in the pack.
As the field heads off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 27 degrees C while the track temperature is 36 degrees. Humidity is 51 percent.
Lower down the field, Massa, Kobayashi, Liuzzi and Alguersuari - like Button - are on the harder tyre.
There's a long wait before the lights go out but finally they're away and almost immediately Petrov spears left into the wall on the main straight. As the field heads cleanly through the first complex of corners the Safety Car is deployed as it is revealed that Hulkenberg, Liuzzi and Massa are already out of the race.
Replay shows Petrov hitting Hulkenberg as they leave the grid while Massa takes out Liuzzi in the first corner.
At the end of the first lap, Rosberg, Trulli, Glock and Senna all pit. Behind the Safety Car it's: Vettel, Kubica, Webber, Alonso, Button, Hamilton, Barrichello, Schumacher, Heidfeld and Sutil.
Good starts from Kubica and Hamilton, sadly overlooked due to the incident happening elsewhere.
More misery for Renault as Kubica pulls off track in S2 of the third lap, the Pole's race over almost before it has begun. Consequently, the five championship challengers fill the first five positions.
Replay shows that the right-rear wheel is missing from Kubica's car. However, there is no clue as to what happened that caused the wheel to come off or where it ended up.
So, after 5 laps behind the Safety Car, we have already lost 6 drivers.
Replay shows the rear-right simply dropping off Kubica's car at the hairpin. Meanwhile, Hamilton is told to do all he can to cool his brakes.
At the end of lap 6 the Safety Car pulls off. Game on!
The Red Bulls maintain position, Vettel leading the way.
Both Mercedes in battles, Rosberg takes Buemi in 130R but then runs wide while Schumacher makes a bold move on Barrichello to take sixth.
At the end of lap 7, Vettel leads Webber by 0.9s with Alonso a further 0.9s down the road. Button and Hamilton are right behind the Ferrari and appear to be quicker.
On lap 8, Vettel posts a new fastest lap (1:37.527) the two Red Bulls lapping almost a second quicker than Alonso.
In seventh place, Barrichello heads a train of six cars, Heidfeld, Sutil, Alguersuari, Kobayashi, Buemi and Rosberg.
On lap 10, Webber posts the fastest lap (36.926) as he attempts to close the 1.5s gap to his teammate. Alonso is now 2.9s behind the Australian. Hamilton is all over Button as Schumacher remains 2.5s behind.
On lap 11, Vettel responds with a 36.765, the leading five covered by 7.7s. Next time around the German ups the ante with a 36.674.
In fifteenth, Yamamoto is having a great time, and doing a great job, holding off Trulli. Countryman Kobayashi is currently eleventh. In a fierce battle with Alguersuari the Sauber driver runs wide but subsequently overhauls the Spaniard.
As Rosberg loses time behind the Kobayashi/Alguersuari battle, teammate Schumacher remains 3.9s behind Hamilton in sixth. Elsewhere, Trulli passes Yamamoto when the Hispania driver makes a mistake.
A brave, bold move by Kobayashi on Sutil at the hairpin, the Japanese driver snatching ninth from the Force India driver. The German subsequently tries to retake the position but the Sauber driver is a man on a mission.
At the end of lap 18, Heidfeld and Sutil both pit as the stewards announce that they will be investigating the Petrov/Hulkenberg, Massa/Liuzzi incidents after the race.
On lap 19 Vettel posts a new fastest lap (36.545) as Webber remains 2.2s behind. Alonso is now 5.3s adrift, the Ferrari clearly no match for the Red Bulls here, with Button a further 3.7s behind.
At the end of lap 20 Barrichello pits, the Brazilian having a quiet afternoon in seventh. He rejoins in twelfth. Glock and Yamamoto having a great scrap for sixteenth.
Alguersuari pits at the end of lap 21, the Spaniard currently running ninth.
At the end of lap 22 Hamilton pits from fifth, the Englishman rejoining in seventh.
Next time around Schumacher stops, the German up to fifth at this stage. He rejoins in ninth behind his Mercedes teammate who made his compulsory stop at the very start of the race.
At the end of lap 24 Vettel pits as does Alonso. They rejoin in third and fourth. Elsewhere, Hamilton makes a brave move on Kobayashi going into Turn 1, the Englishman on a real charge.
Webber pits at the end of lap 25, handing the lead back to his teammate. The Australian rejoins in third as Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (35.675).
Of the leaders all but Button have stopped, the Englishman sure to lose out to his McLaren teammate when he finally pits, such is Hamilton's pace.
As the Red Bull duo post personal bests, Schumacher is all over Rosberg however, the youngster is not prepared to roll over for the old master.
Now leading the race, Button is lapping around 1.3s slower than his teammate.
Webber goes quickest in the first sector as Button raises his pace. Indeed, the Englishman posts a personal best (36.281).
On lap 28, as Buemi finally pits, Alonso posts a new fastest lap (35.452). Elsewhere, Schumacher continues to harry Rosberg. Button now lapping just 0.2s slower than his teammate.
As the TV director focuses on the Rosberg/Schumacher battle, Webber and Alonso trade fastest laps.
Of the leading ten, only Button and Kobayashi (sixth) haven't stopped.
Webber closes to within 1.3s of Vettel, the German appearing to have eased off slightly. Hamilton now lapping 1.2s quicker than his teammate.
At the end of lap 32, Yamamoto, now running last, finally pits.
With 20 laps remaining, it's: Button, Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Kobayashi, Rosberg, Schumacher, Heidfeld, Barrichello, Sutil, Alguersuari, Buemi, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, Senna and Yamamoto.
As Hamilton goes quickest in S1, Alonso is told to up his pace. "I'm trying, I'm trying," says the Spaniard. Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (35.182) as he closes to within 2.9s of the Ferrari.
Kovalainen finally pits at the end of lap 36, the Finn not helped by a photographer who runs across the pitlane in front of him.
On lap 37, Button posts another personal best (35.943) however, his lead over Hamilton is a mere 9s, it's not enough, it's not nearly enough.
Next time around the Englishman pits, rejoining in fifth place, 8.5s behind Hamilton as Kobayashi also pits. The Sauber driver rejoins in twelfth.
As Vettel posts a new fastest lap (34.715), Hamilton complains that he has lost third gear.
On fresh soft rubber, Button goes quickest in all three sectors, crossing the line at 34.205 to post a new fastest lap. More importantly, he has closed to within 6.4s of his teammate in just one lap.
Next time around the 2009 world champion takes another 2s off his teammate as Rosberg and Schumacher continue their game of cat and mouse.
Not for the first time the partisan TV director focuses on Kobayashi who is battling with Alguersuari for eleventh.
Button closes to within 0.6s of his teammate, McLaren best served by Hamilton deferring to his countryman. Which he duly does, the 2008 champion allows his teammate through, the 2009 version setting off after Alonso who is 11.7s up the road.
Another bold move from Kobayashi sees the Japanese driver take twelfth from Alguersuari at Spoon. The Spaniard tries to fight back, indeed he moves across on the Sauber, they clash and the front wing on the Toro Rosso incurs damage. Moments later, Sutil, who has smoke pouring from the back of his car, spins on what might be his own oil. The German subsequently heads back to the pits.
On lap 46, Button posts another fastest lap (33.889) as he closes to within 12s of Alonso.
Clearly a man on a mission, Kobayashi now closes right in on Barrichello, the Brazilian's afternoon about to get a whole lot livelier.
On lap 48, Rosberg goes off into the barriers at Turn 5, his left-rear wheel having flown off the car. Elsewhere, having made short work of Barrichello, Kobayashi closes in on Heidfeld.
The Japanese driver makes a typically bold move at the hairpin, nipping inside his Sauber teammate to take seventh. His next target…. Michael Schumacher who is 6.7s ahead.
Out front, after 50 laps, Vettel leads Webber by 1.9s with Alonso another 1.8s behind. Button is 11.5s down on the Spaniard but 14.1s clear of his McLaren teammate.
On lap 51, Vettel pulls a 33.653 out of nowhere, the German on top form today. Indeed, on top form all weekend.
The German begins his final lap, now 2.6s clear of his teammate. However, more importantly, he keeps his world championship hopes very much alive closing to within 14 points of Webber who still leads the championship.
"This is our circuit," he shouts into his radio on his in-lap, and looking back on today's performance and last year's he is probably right.
Mark Webber takes second, and fastest race lap (33.474) for good measure. A relatively quiet afternoon for the Australian who goes into the final three races with a 14 point advantage over his teammate and Fernando Alonso.
As for the Spaniard, it was clear from today's qualifying session, and Friday's free practice, that Red Bull had the advantage, therefore third place is probably the best he could realistically expect.
A mixed day for McLaren, Hamilton's race ruined by that gearbox problem while Button's tyre gamble was compromised by the early Safety Car. Nonetheless they both remain mathematically in with a chance of the drivers' title though the odds are getting longer.
Michael Schumacher gives one of his best performances of the season, however, Mercedes attention is sure to be on the Nico Rosberg incident at the end of the race.
A great performance from Kamui Kobayashi who worth the price of admission alone, while Nick Heidfeld's points finish makes it an almost perfect day for Sauber.
Strong performances from Barrichello and Buemi in terms of the final points scorers however, one cannot help but feel what might have been had Robert Kubica not fallen out so early in the race.
Hopefully we head to Korea in two weeks time where battle will resume, in what is a fascinating and finely poised season.
After the frustration of yesterday, fans got something of a reward today what with a great qualifying session and an incident filled race.
Red Bull might have had it their own way, but the battles throughout the field, especially Kamikaze Kobayashi's charge, helped to maintain Suzuka's special status.
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