After a couple of disasters in Singapore and Japan when they needed good finishes the hopes of the drivers championship for the two McLaren drivers seems to getting a little more remote. Last weekend in Suzuka Hamilton had an off on Friday, got given a five-place penalty for changing his gearbox and finally had issues with the new box and was without 3rd for a significant portion of the race.
Jenson button never had the pace of the RedBull drivers, went with a different tire option that the rest of the front runners, a gamble did not pay off.
So, not a good weekend for McLaren, the problem is that it comes in the back of another poor team performance in Singapore, where Alonso’s Ferrari led lights-to-flag. There Hamilton did not finish for the second race running and Buttons fourth place dropped him even further away from the championship lead.
- Weber – 220
- Alonso – 206
- Vettel – 206
- Hamilton – 192
- Button – 189
There are three races left, Korea, Brazil and Abu Dhabi, with seven points between first and second it means Weber needs to beat Alonso and Vettel at least once more. With Alonso and Ferrari making such a strong move up the leader board over the last 4 or 5 races it sets up a very interesting finish.
It’s difficult to say the two McLaren drivers are out of the chase, but it’s a win and a bit more between Hamilton and Weber. For either of the McLaren drivers to win this the drivers above them need to start having reliability issues and collecting DNF’s.
Hamilton has failed to finish in 3 of the last 5 races, this run of bad form has occurred on the higher speed circuits that (Belgium, Monza and Japan) that earlier in the year seemed to suit the McLaren over the RedBull chassis.
Vettel feels he is in a “very good position” in the title race. Over the last few races Webbers main contender has changed from Hamilton, to Alonso and Vettel. Fourteen points is not much of a gap and this year’s championship looks like it’s going to the final race.
After the minor front wing argument in Silverstone where the RedBull management was clear the driver leading the championship would get some level of preferential treatment. Many feet that (and rumour supported) Vettel was the favoured driver inside the team and that’s not changed. However Webber has a fourteen point lead in the championship.
After his win at the British GP at Silverstone Webber said on his team radio: “Not bad for a number two driver.”
RedBull have already thrown away a 1-2 finish in Turkey when Vettel and Webber collided. Vettel was forced to retire and Webber finished third. The team can’t allow that to happen again, it will be interesting to see what Vettels reaction would be if the team asked him to put aside his own interests to support Webber in the fight for the championship.
The constructor’s championship is not wrapped up either. After Japan RedBull have a 45 point lead over McLaren. This is not much, allow the two RedBull drivers to race one another and it is a mistake away from allowing McLaren back into the championship.
Assuming the circuit passes inspection this week the circus is heading to the unknown in Korea, no one has even turned a wheel there yet, another interesting race in a couple of weeks.