14/11/2010
NEWS STORY
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After 19 races over 21,000 laps comprising countless thousands of miles, the Formula One circus finds itself almost back where it started eight months ago, in the desert.
Having missed out last year, the Yas Island circuit finally gets to host a season finale which actually means something, indeed, the race it is hosting today is one of the most important in recent years and is sure to attract some of the sport's highest ever global viewing figures.
What we have today, certainly on paper, is the possibility of a battle of epic proportions, something that even Hollywood would be hard pushed to match. Whether the race lives up to expectations however, who knows?
Nonetheless, the journey to Abu Dhabi has been one of high drama, and who would have imagined that eight months ago following that uninspiring procession in Bahrain.
Mathematically, four drivers are still in with a shot at the title, though in the opinion of most only three, at a stretch two, should be taken seriously. Then again, wasn't it Murray Walker who always insists - quite wrongly as it happens - that F1 is If backwards?
Last year's race, which saw Sebastian Vettel lead home a Red Bull 1-2, was relatively incident free other than a minor coming together between Mark Webber and Rubens Barrichello at the start. Then again, Lewis Hamilton - one of only two retirements - was sidelined after just 20 laps as a result of a "rogue" brake pad.
Despite wild speculation, it is highly unlikely that we're going to witness a major incident this afternoon which will turn the championship on it head, certainly in terms of startline pile-ups and first corner clashes, however, reliability could be a factor, especially with a number of drivers pushing the envelope in terms of the remaining life in their engines.
The main topic of interest, as if we need reminding, is the four-way title fight between Alonso, Webber, Vettel and Hamilton. However, let's not forget that a number of drivers have yet to secure deals for next year and the final rankings in the all (financially) important Constructors' Championship are far from settled.
As far as the title fight is concerned, Fernando Alonso has the edge, a situation that improved when Mark Webber was only able to qualify fifth. Sebastian Vettel has the opportunity to become one of the sport's true heroes this afternoon but so too does Lewis Hamilton, who, in his own words, has nothing to lose. And lest we forget Murray's mantra of "if", just cast your mind back to Interlagos 2008 when the championship was decided in the final corner of the last lap.
So stuff the speculation and rhetoric, let's hope for a good clean - ok not too clean - fight that lives up to the hype. Let's hope for a race worthy of the occasion and a champion worthy of the title. Then again, all four men have been mighty impressive this season. Yes there have been mistakes, there has been silliness, there have been outburst and tantrums, but make no mistake none of these guys is in the position of being a title contender by accident or luck.
As the cars come out for their installation laps, weather conditions are ideal. It was overcast earlier this morning, leading to speculation that those predicting rain had got it right. However, as we approach the 17:00 start time its bright and somewhat balmy as the sun begins to set.
Asked on the grid where his responsibilities lie this afternoon, the uber-cool Vettel quickly replies: "in my hands".
As the field prepares to head off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 29 degrees while the track temperature is 33 degrees. Humidity is 57%.
Vettel leads the field away on the warm-up lap, ahead of Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Webber and Massa. The two Englishmen and the Brazilian starting from the dirty side of the grid.
The Top 10 are all on the super-soft (option) tyres, Kubica - starting from eleventh - is the first driver on the harder medium (prime) tyre.
In his efforts to generate more heat into his tyres Alonso almost runs into the back of Hamilton. That would have been fun.
They're away and Vettel holds the lead as Button moves up to third, a great start from the Englishman. The two Mercedes touch causing Schumacher to spin with Liuzzi running straight into and actually mounting the seven-time champion's car in a sickening incident. Horrible, but thankfully both drivers are out of their car.
With the Safety Car deployed, Rosberg, Petrov, Alguersuari, Senna, di Grassi and Klien all pit.
Behind the Safety Car, it's Vettel, Hamilton, Button, Alonso, Webber, Massa, Barrichello, Kobayashi, Sutil and Kubica.
Hamilton asks if his car is OK, not sure whether he touched Vettel going into the first corner.
Replay shows that the collision between Rosberg and Schumacher was minor, however, Liuzzi was unsighted when he hit Mercedes which was stranded in the middle of the track facing the wrong way. Nonetheless, it looked and was horrible.
After 4 laps, as the Safety Car leads the field, the marshals clear the debris from the track.
Hamilton is told that his tyre pressures are low and that he needs to heat them up. Schumacher walks down the pitlane with Liuzzi, the two chatting and laughing. "Pilote, che gente…" as Enzo Ferrari said.
"You're doing a good job," Vettel is told, "but you need to warm up the right front".
The Safety Car pulls off at the end of lap 5, as Hamilton almost passes Vettel before the safety line. The German appeared to back off causing the McLaren driver to close in and run a little wide. Rosberg passes Sutil to take sixteenth. Moments later, Kubica also passes the Force India.
First lap od the race proper and Vettel posts fastest lap (1:46.549) as he enjoys a 1.2s lead over Hamilton. Alonso, 4.2s down on the leader, is under pressure from Webber.
Kobayashi makes a bold move on Barrichello but carries too much speed and overshoots giving the place back to the Williams driver.
Another fastest lap for Vettel as Webber loses ground to his teammate, the Australian now 6.5s down on the leader. Replay shows Webber brushing the barriers as he chases Alonso. Would the Red Bull driver be best advised to make an early stop, the Spaniard isn't going to make things easy for him, far from it.
Rosberg makes a great move on Hulkenberg to take thirteenth, as Hamilton goes quickest in the first two sectors.
On lap 10, both Ferraris are lapping quicker than Webber, the Australian under increasing pressure from sixth-placed Massa. Meanwhile, a succession of good laps sees Hamilton close to within 1.7s of Vettel.
Webber pits at the end of lap 11, rejoining in sixteenth, behind Alguersuari, after a slippery moment in the pitlane tunnel. Moments before the stop the Australian had told his crew he had no rear tyres.
Ferrari mechanics come out for a stop but then return to their garage. Next time around however, it is Massa who pits, rejoining in sixteenth behind Webber who is having all sorts of problems with Alguersuari.
Out front, after 14 laps, Hamilton is 1s behind Vettel, with Button a further 3.5s down the road.
On fresh rubber and in clear air, Webber goes quickest in S1. In the pitlane the mechanics are ready for Alonso who almost clouts the barriers in the final corner before the pitlane entry. Heidfeld also pits as Webber posts a new fastest lap (45.086).
Alonso has rejoined in twelfth just ahead of Webber, the Spaniard is told not to worry about the Australian and concentrate on the leaders. Indeed, Alguersuari, who cost Webber precious time is now causing similar problems for Massa.
"We're going a bit longer on these tyres," Vettel is told, "make sure you look after them." The German is now 1.6s ahead of Hamilton but his attention is focussed on the gap to the main pack of which Rosberg seems suited for the remainder of the race having made his stop right at the start.
Barrichello pits at the end of lap 18 as Heidfeld posts a new fastest lap (44.636) - over 1.5s quicker than the race leader.
Other than a podium finish, Rosberg could have a say in the championship should he finish ahead of Alonso. The Spaniard is currently eleventh all over Petrov who has already stopped. The Russian, let's not forget, is using a Renault powerplant, just like the Red Bulls.
"I can see that you're doing your best but it is critical to pass," Alonso is told. However, after Petrov, the Spaniard has to deal with Hulkenberg and then Rosberg. Out front, Vettel leads by 1.8s as Hamilton goes quickest in S1.
All the while that Alonso harries Petrov, Webber is keeping a watching eye. Alonso makes a move on Petrov but the Russian shuts the door, the Ferrari driver runs wide but holds position
At the end of lap 23, Hamilton pits, rejoining in fifth behind Kubica.
"Come on Sebastian, give it everything you've got, come on!" Moments later, the German dives into the pits rejoining 20.061s later in second. He's alongside Kobayashi as he rejoins the race but holds position, the Japanese driver in his own fight with Kubica.
As Kubica out-brakes Kobayashi - around the outside - Button posts a new fastest lap (44.339). Hamilton quickest in sectors one and two as Webber runs wide in his pursuit of Alonso who is still behind Petrov.
Hamilton makes a bold, bold move on Kobayashi to take fourth as Vettel posts a new fastest lap (43.564).
This is quite thrilling, having had the advantage Alonso now finds himself with it all to do. He must pass Petrov and then Hulkenberg.
As Petrov frustrate Alonso, fellow Renault driver Kubica is keeping Hamilton at bay. Elsewhere, Trulli heads back to the pits his front wing askew.
Replay shows Alonso running wide as frustration appears to get the better of the Ferrari driver. Meanwhile, Hamilton almost runs into the back of Kubica. "Keep trying, keep trying," the McLaren driver is told. "You'll get your chance".
On lap 30 Vettel posts a new fastest lap (43.302), he's 11.6s down on Button but 8sd clear of Hamilton, and as for Alonso….
"I need to pit again, my front left is really bad," says Hamilton. "We can't afford that," is the blank response. Interestingly, Kubica has yet to stop, the Pole on the hard tyres with which he started the race.
Replay shows the reason for Lewis' woes, in his pursuit of Kubica he's locking up here, there and everywhere. Schumacher watches from the pitwall, no doubt wishing he was out there.
At the end of lap 33 Kobayashi pits from sixth, rejoining in sixteenth.
Vettel posts a new fastest lap (42.942) as he closes in on Button. Hamilton continues his battle with Kubica as does Alonso with Petrov. Neither the Englishman or his former teammate looking likely to make a winning move any time soon.
After 36 laps, the only two retirements are Schumacher and Liuzzi. Hulkenberg pits, which moves Alonso up to ninth but still behind Petrov.
Another fastest lap for Vettel (42.705) as he closes to within 6.6s of Button. Meanwhile, Buemi (seventh) pits.
"Just be consistent, focus on braking, that's al we need," Vettel is told just as Button finally makes his pit stop. As Vettel takes the lead, Button rejoins in fourth behind the battling Kubica and Hamilton.
After 39 laps, with Kubica and Sutil still to pit, it's: Vettel, Kubica, Hamilton, Button, Sutil, Rosberg, Petrov, Alonso, Webber and Alguersuari.
Vettel and Kubica are the only drivers lapping in the 1:42s, though, let's not forget, the Pole has yet to stop.
"I have a problem with the radio," says Vettel, "tell me everything on the pit board".
As Button posts a new fastest lap (42.401), Glock pits from eighteenth. Kovalainen - in seventeenth - is the best placed of the newbies.
"Use the best of your talent," Alonso is told, "we know how big it is, use it!" At this stage, the Spaniard's best bet would be for his team to offer Petrov Alonso's seat for next season.
While this is a track not known for overtaking we have seen some moves this afternoon, and they've come off. Therefore, Alonso needs to bite the bullet and start taking risks. Then again, the dirty air from the Renault will not be helping the Spaniard.
After 45 laps of 55, Vettel leads Kubica by 12.6s while Alonso is 35.8s behind and stuck behind Petrov. And let's not forget, if he passes the Russian there is still Rosberg to deal with.
Kubica finally pits at the end of lap 46 as Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (42.268). The Pole rejoins in seventh ahead of his Russian teammate and Alonso. However, he appears to cross the white line as he leave the pits… penalty?
Another fastest lap for Hamilton, the Englishman posting a 41.274 now he's in clear air. Elsewhere, Sutil (fourth) finally pits rejoining in twelfth.
It's now: Vettel, Hamilton, Button, Rosberg, Kubica, Petrov, Alonso, Webber, Alguersuari, Massa and Heidfeld.
Alonso runs wide at Turn 18 as he sees his third title slipping from his grasp. Meanwhile, Webber is told to up the ante and attack the Spaniard.
On the pit wall and in the garage members of the Red Bull are totally on edge, their nerves absolutely frazzled. And who can blame them, let's not forget Vettel's engine failure just a couple of races ago.
A bit of wing falls form Trulli's car, moments later Vettel takes avoiding action. The Italian pits, possibly the fourth retirement of the day.
Vettel begins his final lap, the most momentous lap of his career to date. Further back Alonso is under intense pressure from Webber.
Vettel takes the win and with it the 2010 title, behind him the McLarens cross the line astern of one another. Kubica takes fourth while Alonso and Webber are unable to make their mark (so to speak).
While Vettel cries with delight, holding his hand to his helmet, the camera cuts away to Alonso who is gesticulating at Petrov. If he's suggesting what he appears to be suggesting it's unnecessary and somewhat sad. Maybe best to hear what he says post-race rather than jump to conclusions.
Anyway, Sebastian Vettel wins, ahead of Hamilton, Button, Rosberg, Kubica, Petrov, Alonso, Webber, Alguersuari and Massa.
Heidfeld is eleventh, ahead of Barrichello, Sutil, Kobayashi, Buemi, Hulkenberg, Kovalainen, di Grassi, Senna and Klien.
Ahead of the race we asked for a good clean fight worthy of the occasion and that's what we got.
We had all focussed on Alonso and the possibility of team orders at Red Bull, but in the end it was academic, a world class drive, excellent strategy, a Safety Car period and some early stops deciding the outcome.
The national anthems of Germany and Austria ring out over Yas Island as Helmut Marko accepts the constructors' trophy on behalf of Red Bull.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man, so they say. Sebastian Vettel was that man, he is a worthy champion.
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