Perfect win for Vettel in Japan as Alonso crashes out

Vettel leading at the first corner

Sebastian Vettel’s love affair with the Japanese Grand Prix continued on Sunday as he produced a thoroughly dominant victory at Suzuka.

It was a perfect day for the German after championship leader Fernando Alonso crashed out at the first bend to throw the world championship wide open. Vettel’s win now leaves him just four points behind the Ferrari driver as he looks to win his third consecutive world title.

Alonso’s teammate Felipe Massa took second, his first podium in over 30 races, and Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi finished third to send the home crowd into raptures.

After claiming a fourth consecutive pole position at Suzuka, Vettel streaked away at the start to leave everyone else to navigate a tough first section. Teammate Mark Webber was jumped Kobayashi before dropping down to 22nd following some contact with Romain Grosjean – the Frenchman promptly handed a 10-second stop-and-go penalty by the stewards.

But it was Alonso’s exit which was the big talking of the day. The Spaniard was pushed wide onto the grass at the start and spun off into the gravel after being tagged by Kimi Raikkonen and having his left rear tyre punctured.

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg also failed to negotiate the first lap when Bruno Senna sent him spinning.

Thereafter it was a relatively quiet race race and Vettel was never troubled out in front as he took a maximum 25 points out of Alonso’s lead.

McLaren, who had both their cars start eighth and ninth, managed to pick up valuable constructors points with Jenson Button finishing fourth and Lewis Hamilton in fifth.

Button did have the chance to claim the final podium place in the closing stages of the race but he could never quite get close enough to the Sauber driver to make a pass.

The day could have been a lot better for Suaber, but Sergio Perez spun his car at the hairpin when trying to pass Hamilton - the man he’ll be replacing at McLaren next year.

Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg took seventh place behind Raikkonen who finished in sixth and Williams’ Pastor Maldonado raced into eighth.

Final positions

‘The aim will be to score at least one point more than all the others’
2012 Formula One page

Philip Wicinski 

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