Drivers standings after Brazil
- Alonso 246
- Webber 238
- Vettel 231
- Hamilton 222
After 18 of the 19 rounds in this years championship there are still four drivers in with a shout of winning everything. I don’t this has ever happened before, Abu Dhabi will be the shoot out I hoped it would be.
Vettel won comfortably with Webber and Alonso taking the lower steps of the podium. Hamilton was fourth and Button fifth. The Red Bull 1-2 was enough to ensure the constructors championship was on it’s way to Milton Keynes this year.
Hulkenbergs rather suprising pole lasted until the entry to the first corner when Vettel took the lead. A lead he held untill the finish except for one lap while changing tires.
Webber took second from Hulkenberg four corners later, the Williams driver ended the opening lap in 3rd.
For others the opening lap was a little more exciting, Alonso was battling Hamilton for 4th and 5th. At the end of lap-1 Alonso was in front, but a spectacular out braking maneuver into the Senna-S moments later gave 4th to Hamilton. Unfortunatly for Hamilton he made a mistake shortly afterwards that gave Alonso 4th back.
It took another couple of laps before Alonso passed Hulkenberg and not untill lap 7 did Hamilton get past the Williams.
Except for pit stops the order stayed the same until the end. Not a thrilling race, conditions were just about perfect today and the top four were separated by a little over 15 seconds at the end.
As it stands, Hamilton is not eliminated but would need to win in Abu Dhabi and have the other three contenders fall off. Lets call that what it is, unlikely. The constructors championship is over and McLaren can let Hamilton go for it and see what happens. No worries about engine mileage or condition, Abu Dhabi is it.
If Webber wins, Alonso has to be third or worse for Webber to clinch. If Vettel wins and Weber is second, then Alonso needs only needs be 4th or better to win the title.
Today Red Bull did what they had to do, win. Unfortunately for the drivers title it was Vettel, not Webber. Had the two Red Bull drivers positions be revered, Alonso would have led Webber by 1 point going into the final weekend.
Assuming Ferrari do what they have done for the last few rounds and just let Alonso drive the race he wants, then Red Bull has to make a decision about team orders. Webber has by far the better chance of the title, but Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner has been clear that the team is going to let the driver race.
I think it’s fitting that the most exciting championship race I’ve ever seen comes down to the final race. It will be fascinating to see how the strategies employed by the teams work out. Hopefully we will see a good race to round out a great year.