VETTEL STAKES HIS CLAIM
(Image taken from BBC)
Well the vast majority of the Formula 1 grid wanted the Brawn's disqualified due to their innovative diffusers. Luckily for Jenson, the FIA had other ideas. So the show went on and the next stop was Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix. The FIA's diffuser judgment meant that a lot of team had been hard at work modifying their cars. That included McLaren, who had flown in a new diffuser despite the exit of Ron Dennis after over 40 years in Formula 1, and the best part of 30 years as one of the biggest names on the F1 grid. Even so, the fact that Lewis was fastest in one of the Friday practice sessions suggested that things were looking up for him.
Well in qualifying, both Brit had a very smooth Q1. The same couldn't be said for Kubica though who was having problems with his KERS system. Q2 turned even nicer from a UK point of view with both Brits surviving that as well, Lewis for the first time this season, McLaren were definitely on the up! The same couldn't be said for Massa though. Q3 and Rosberg was the first guy to set a time before being quickly outgunned by Alonso. Then Webber hit the front. Then Barrichello. Then Webber was back at the front. Then Vettel came out of nowhere with his only flyer of the session to take his first pole of the season! Alonso P2, Webber P3, Barrichello, P4, Jenson a disappointing P5 but fueled heavy. Lewis had to settle for P9.
Well the race started behind the safety car due to rain so when the green lights showed it did feel slightly anti-climatic, particularly as a lot of people felt they could have gone racing in those conditions. Once it got running, Lewis ripped through the field, getting as far as 6th in what looked like a return to form for the world champion before making it up to 5th by taking Kovalainen then making 4th by taking Raikonen for the 2nd time before pitting himself and coming back 8th. Due to others pit stops he got as high as 5th only for two spins to put down to 7th before Sutl crashed out, allowing the McLaren driver to finally finish 6th, technically his best result so far this season.
As for Jenson well of course, he, like all the others, had to start behind the safety car. He was able to take advantage of an early pitstop by Alonso and then overtake Barrichello for 3rd but even Ross had been caught out in the wet conditions and Jenson never really looked like having a serious shot at winning here. He did have a period in the lead but the highlight of his race was a duel with Webber for 2nd place, a duel that he ultimately lost after running wide. He later dropped to 4th but after Barrichello pitted he moved to to 3rd to at least secure a spot on the podium. Well, you can't win them all and after the start he had, the Brit has no reason to complain.
The one man that no one could catch this time around proved to be Vettel. Other than an incident early on with Buemi, nothing seemed to faze him and arguably the Webber vs Button duel helped secure the race for him. The Red Bull may not have the new diffuser but it is an Adrian Newey car and so it was only a matter of time before one of those machines got a win, for Vettel it's his first win of the season and much earlier than expected for a guy that I didn't expect to be in the title race this year. Webber in the meantime still managed to secure 2nd place, the best result of his career and the best F1 result by an Aussie since Alan Jones won the 1981 Australian Grand Prix. Put the two together and you have the first ever Red Bull 1-2, and that's something that neither of the previous incarnations, Stewart or Jaguar could pull off - Stewart starting up in '97.
Despite not winning this time around, Jenson still not only leads the championship with 21 points but extends his lead to six points. Further down, Lewis moves up to 10th in the championship with 4 points(though no top five finishes).
Comments go here
Click here to return to sports homepage
Click here to return to Matt G's homepage