Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel becomes three time world drivers champion by taking sixth place in a great comeback drive after dropping to the back of the field in turn four of the first lap after turning in on Brazilian Bruno Senna sending the German into a spin, sustaining major damage on the left side of the car, which Red Bull managed by changing engine maps to reduce exhaust heat!
Championship rival Fernando Alonso did all he could to try to win his third title, bringing his Ferrari home in second place, which you’d have to say was fortuitous given that Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg took out race leader Lewis Hamilton on lap 55, Hulkenberg continued but dropped back to fifth after serving a drive-through penalty for causing an avoidable collision, which I believe was a racing incident personally, I don’t understand how Vettel turning in on Senna could not be considered causing an avoidable accident as well! Another case of inconsistent FIA stewardship.
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa finished his season on a high claiming his second podium in front of his home crowd, I’m really happy for Massa, who had a shocking first half of the season, the Brazilian coming back so strong after the mid season break, I really hope that Massa has a better start to 2013.
Mark Webber took the chequered flag in fourth place after an eventful race, having a number of off track excursions and a spin, Nico Hulkenberg finished the race in fifth place despite his coming together with Hamilton. There was a time where I thought that Hulkenberg was going to win the race before the German half spun allowing Hamilton to make the pass to take the lead on lap 48.
Vettel finished in sixth as I’ve already written about; Michael Schumacher finished his final Grand Prix in seventh place. I’ve never been a fan of Schumacher but I am happy to see the German finish his career with a handful of points. Jean Eric Vergne finished the race in eighth place despite rear ending Timo Glock, which robbed Marussia of 10th place in the constructors championship.
Kamui Kobayashi finished what is likely to be his last F1 race in ninth place; being dropped by Sauber in favour of Esteban Gutierrez for the 2013 season. The final points paying position went to Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen who had a bizarre excursion onto the old part of the circuit, only to find that there was a closed gate, so had to spin the car around and backtrack onto the current circuit.
Oh yes, Jenson Button bookended his season with a victory, inheriting the lead when Hamilton and Hulkenberg collided. Button was fortunate to win this race as his team mate Hamilton had the edge in the battle of the Britons. But at the same time, you’d have to say that Jenson also made his own luck by staying out on slick tyres when many were pitting for intermediate tyres. It’s just a shame that the race finished at half speed; under yellow flags after Paul di Resta put it in the wall!
From a personal point of view, I am happy that Jenson won the final race of the season, I’m also happy that Sebastian claimed his third title, Ferrari’s actions at the United States Grand Prix left a bad taste in my month. Great race to end the season, although Brazil never fails to deliver.
Top 10 Classified Finishers, Brazilian Grand Prix 2012.
| 1. Jenson Button (McLaren) 2. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 3. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 4. Mark Webber (Red Bull) 5. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) |
6. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) 7. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) 8. Jean Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso) 9. Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber) 10. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) |
Final 2012 World Drivers Title Standings.
| 1. Sebastian Vettel, 281pts 2. Fernando Alonso, 278pts 3. Kimi Raikkonen, 207pts 4. Lewis Hamilton, 190pts 5. Jenson Button, 188pts |
6. Mark Webber, 179pts 7. Felipe Massa, 122pts 8. Romain Grosjean, 96pts 9. Nico Rosberg, 93pts 10. Sergio Perez, 66pts |
