ALONSO STEALS KOREAN VICTORY AND CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD FROM THE REALMS OF RED BULL

Two weeks ago, the tarmac hadn’t even been laid at the Korean International Circuit.  Earlier today though, it hosted its inaugural Grand Prix after 14 days and nights of hard work.

The track had been branded the Hungaroring with more corners, and on Friday the dust seemed to be oozing out of the place.  The weather for the two Friday practice sessions stayed dry, allowing the drivers to get to grips with the track, the location, and the driving limits.

It was a rather eventful day as far as practices go, but the track time brought attention to a rather controversial section on the track.  The pitlane exit follows a blind right hand sweeping corner which starts right on the racing line.  With drivers forced to stay within the white line on entry, and a nasty bump which would be highlighted later on in the weekend, the drivers met on Friday evening to discuss potential changes to the corner.  They concluded that whilst there was not much that they could do for this year’s race, there would be a complete redesign of turn 17 next year.  The only change they confirmed for this year was that the rule of staying within the white line on entry would be abolished.

With track changes made, Saturday brought new challenges – driving on the limit.  Friday practices are used for high fuel testing and so, often the cars are not pushed to the limit.  On Saturday the teams do low fuel runs ahead of qualifying.  This tests the cars’ ultimate pace.

Safety car driver, Bernd Maylander, led more laps
than any other driver

Qualifying this year has been dominated by Red Bull Racing.  The surprise in Korea was though, that with one minute left on the clock, it was Fernando Alonso who had the lead.  True to form, Sebastian Vettel absolutely obliterated the opposition in qualifying with only one single lap.  Webber slotted in ahead of Alonso but behind Vettel.  Further back Nico Rosberg discretely pulled his car up to fifth on the grid, with Hamilton ahead, and Massa and Button behind.  Vitaly Petrov qualified in 15^th, but due to a five place grid penalty gained at the previous race, started the race in 20^th.

On Sunday morning the start time came and went without a sign of a racing lap.  After 10 minutes, it was announced that the race start would take place behind the safety car. The reason for this was heavy rain in the Yeongam provence.  This proved to be a mistake for the race organisers, as only a few laps in, the race was abruptly stopped and the restart delayed for well over an hour.

After much reluctance from the drivers, and waffle-panned commentary, the race resumed.  This was once again behind the safety car.  On lap 17, the safety car returned to the pits much to the excitement of a very keen Lewis Hamilton.  The race had only just properly started as the action commenced.  Championship leader Mark Webber fell victim to a self induced collision with the barrier on the first lap after the restart.  He ran wide at turn 12, getting on the dust and dirt at the exit.  He was slightly over exuberant on the pedal, and simply speared into the Armco.  This ended his race on the spot, but his rebound off the barrier collected Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg, taking him out of the race as well.

Mark Webber was left with three wheels after an early collision

This crash brought out the safety car for a third time in the race.  Soon the safety car came in, and a flawless opening few laps gave Vettel a commanding race advantage.  In second was Fernando Alonso with Hamilton, Massa, Button and Schumacher in pursuit.  Schumacher was on the pace and keeping up with the front runners.  It wasn’t long before he had Button overtaken, the Brit slowing with tyre related problems.

At this point, the weather was still wet, at a level no different to that at the start of the race.  Further back, Sutil, Kobayashi, Liuzzi and Alguersuari providing most of the drama.  This group were the first to pit for the intermediate tyre, sparking a stop for Button and then the rest of the leaders.  Kobayashi was the star at the previous race in Suzuka, and seemed less inspired in Korea.  Instead of Kobayashi, it was Adrian Sutil causing most trouble.  This time, though, for all the wrong reasons.  Button had returned from his stop behind the aforementioned group, losing a lot of time, and subsequently points.  With Button managing to pass Sutil, it was when Sutil came back at him that cost him the race.  The two tangled wheels, sending Button off the track, and losing even more time to the front runners.  Even further back, the new teams were battling (and struggling) for pride.  Buemi collected Glock, earning the former a grid penalty for the next race.  Whilst a collision between Senna and Trulli went unnoticed by the stewards, Sutil’s crash with Kobayashi earned a similar penalty to Buemi.



Vettel was denied an easy win by his Renault engine



Petrov was left fuming after a spin into the barriers out of 7^th on lap 39.  Vitaly Petrov is fighting for his position in the Renault team, and a good result would have helped his cause endlessly.  Vettel’s lead drastically decreased with only 11 laps remaining.  This was put down to an engine failure, and his race was over with the rest of the remaining (and reduced) field streaking past. 

This development allowed Fernando Alonso into the lead.  Alonso had been passed by Hamilton at his pitstop because of a jumpy wheel nut, but a mistake by Hamilton let Alonso back past.



Fernando Alonso now leads the championship

Alonso’s lead became comfortable due to similar problems on Hamilton’s car, as to what was earlier experienced by team mate Button.  Behind, Hulkenberg’s strong sixth place quickly turned into a poor one point with a late puncture. 

The Spanish double world champion finished the race in near darkness, but deserved the result which sends him 11 points clear of Webber in the championship.  In second was Lewis Hamilton, who now moves up into third overall.  Alonso’s team mate, Felipe Massa, rounded out the podium places, with comeback king Michael Schumacher in fourth.  Robert Kubica failed to live up to the Friday hype, finishing only in fifth.  Liuzzi may well have saved his Force India bacon, with a strong 6^th placed race finish.  In seventh was Rubens Barrichello, who lost two places in the closing laps.  He finished ahead of the two Saubers (Kobayashi and Heidfeld respectively) with Nico Hulkenberg claiming the final point.

Mark Webber now lies second overall, ten points clear of Lewis Hamilton.  Sebastian Vettel lies a further four behind, with Jenson Button realistically out of the reckoning in fifth.

The next race is in Brazil in two weeks.  This race has decided the championship winner in the past five years, and may well do so again this year.