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WHILE Button won the battle, Vettel won the war. Red Bull’s number one driver, Sebastien Vettel, was finally crowned world champion for the second successive year, in the process becoming the youngest-ever to achieve the feat, aged 24 years and 98 days.
In claiming the title last year in Abu Dhabi many considered it as his good fortune at the expense of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso’s poor team decision-making.
In doing so he has also taken over the mantle as Germany’s favourite son from the last man to achieve such domination in Formula One, Michael Schumacher, back in 2002 and 2004.
The world crown has looked destined for the young German’s head since he claimed six wins and two runners-up positions in the first eight races. Since then he has gone on to claim nine victories in 15 races and 12 pole positions, taking him to 13th (with 19 wins) in the all-time winners’ list and ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Stirling Moss.
With such a dominant car he now has the chance to leap into the top 10 by winning the last four races of the season.
Yet the figure-of-eight circuit at Suzuka in Japan is a great leveller of cars and provides a greater reward to drivers with a smoother driving style.
The volume of high speed twists and turns places a greater demand on the tyres with superior efficiency enabling faster times and a longer time between pit-stops.
And so it proved with Vettel having to settle for third behind Jenson Button who claimed his first victory in Japan, the country that has become his second home in recent years. The top two drivers in the championship sandwiched the two-time Japanese winner, Alonso, whose similarly smooth style saw him chase Button to the finish.
Vettel’s race started in controversial fashion as he made a poor start from pole, coming alongside the man second in the championship points table, Button.
As the Briton came past aiming for the inside line around the first bend, Vettel slowly drifted towards Button forcing him onto the grass and lose his position to teammate Hamilton.
The incident was investigated by race stewards who ruled that it was a fair racing incident. If that’s the case then this is an area that I believe needs to be reviewed in the close season.
As the rules currently stand the lead driver is allowed to make one defensive manoeuvre, which is effectively what Vettel did. However, it is my personal opinion that such a move should not be permitted once the car is already alongside, particularly such a significant move away from the natural racing line.
The chessboard strategies started to evolve as early as the eighth lap when Hamilton was forced into the pits by a puncture.
Other teams duly followed, eager to mirror any potential advantage gained by a competitor. The process continued with the McLarens, Ferraris and Red Bulls all pitting within a lap of each other.
It was at the second stop that Button took the lead with a stunning fast lap and faster tyre change. Having taken the lead, his victory in the race looked as assured as Vettel’s in the championship.
The only danger came from the deployment of a safety car to clear the debris resulting from another collision between Hamilton and Massa and a late charge from Alonso.
While Button parked in front of an adoring grandstand, Vettel drove a lap of honour with his two index fingers pointing to the sky.
In the land of the rising sun, it was the scene for the sun setting on the championship.
Vettel’s achievements now include:
Interestingly, rumours have surfaced in Japan last weekend that the FIA will review its decision to allow Bahrain to host a race next season due to what was described as ‘ongoing disturbances’ on various blogs.
If it takes this route then it will be acting as judge and jury on the affairs of a nation and would have to review many circuits throughout the season, with numerous hosting nations having had the finger pointed at them by human rights groups.
If the FIA is to delve into politics (which I do not believe they should) they should also ensure that they make a decision based on fact rather than rumour. Bahrain needs and deserves F1.
