Pure opinion. None of this is said with any malice, although I?m sure there are some who will take it as such!
Pure opinion. None of this is said with any malice, although I?m sure there are some who will take it as such! Enjoy it for what it is, and by all means, let me know your thoughts and opinions as to why I am right or wrong.
The Good:
Sebastian Vettel
truly terrific drive from Sebastian Vettel, and one worthy of winning the World Championship. The pre race worry that Vettel would stay ahead of his title rival throughout the race lasted until Turn 4, where a coming together with Senna saw the Championship favourite facing in the wrong direction, plumb last and with a car so damaged you wondered whether he could continue. Not to be deterred, Vettel drove like a demon to be back in the points within a few laps, and the rest is Formula One history. If ever he needed to provide a riposte to the critics that argue he has not triumphed on talent, the last two races have provided him with all the ammunition he required. This years title was fought for between two driving geniuses who transcended their machinery, and the winning hat has fallen on the head of the one who had won the most races. Vettel becomes the youngest three time champion in the history of the sport, and takes his place in the elite group that have achieved what he has. What he could end up achieving by the end of his career is anyones guess.
Jenson Button
s there a better driver in conditions that are neither wet nor dry? You would get short odds that it was Jenson Button who made the decision to stay out on slicks and as such, he snaffled his 3rd win of the season in simply stunning fashion ? were it not for the Safety Car, his winning margin could have been greater. Whilst Alonso fans were hoping that JB would have some sort of trouble over the last few laps, their hope would have been his McLaren giving up on him rather than Button making an error. Quite simply, he drove in the calm and assured manner that he has become famed for, and there was never anyone who was going to keep up with that consistency over the 71 laps. He finishes just a couple of points behind his teammate, and will be looking forward to 2013 for so many reasons.
Fernando Alonso
ell in the end, Fernando Alonso did what everyone expected of him ? he threw absolutely everything he could at his 2012 title challenge and came up just short. Alonso was never going to catch the race winner, only finished as high as he did due to incidents to drivers in front of him, and also due to his teammates acquiescence. That is to take nothing away from him either in this race or the season as a whole. Alonso has been superb, and has gained many fans during the course of 2012. The question will forever be asked? what if that Ferrari had been any good on a Saturday?
Felipe Massa
ollowing terrific performances of late, Felipe Massa turned it on in front of his home crowd. Massa drove a wonderful race, punctuated with superb overtakes, genuine pace and did everything that Ferrari and Alonso could possibly have asked of him. There really is not much else to say, aside from this looked like the Massa of 2008 back in full flow. He has more than justified his teams faith in him, and will enjoy his winter break far more than his mid season one.
Nico Hulkenberg
ell who saw that coming? Nico Hulkenberg showed that Force Indias loss is Saubers undoubted gain with a performance of pace and guile, that saw him as the only driver who could still drive on slick tyres alongside Button. Even in qualifying it was a surprise that he managed to secure a starting position of 6th place, but his brilliant start and subsequent speed saw him duelling for which spot on the podium he would end up with. Alas, it was not to be, and a moment of indecision (and then the wrong decision) saw him clump Hamilton and incur a drive through penalty. Still, 5th was a remarkable result in isolation and rounded off Hulkenbergs comeback season nicely.
Michael Schumacher
nd so a final goodbye to the greatest and most successful driver in Formula One history. We didn?t get a spectacular last hurrah for the old man, but we did get an extremely creditable 7th place, a more than decent drive, and an outperformance(?) of his teammate.
Caterham
Their only hope is that it rains in Brazil and causes carnage.? Goodness only knows how Caterham got themselves out of this one. Certainly not by asking Charles Pic, their driver for next season, to somehow ensure that Vitaly Petrov found his way past into the elusive position that gave Caterham their 10th place and the financial reward that came with it. Oh no sir.
The Bad:
Lewis Hamilton
oor Lewis Hamilton. He really didn?t deserve that, something neither his fans nor his detractors can argue surely? Hamilton was driving really well, and just when it looked like he would be assured of a farewell podium for his beloved McLaren, he was hit by a Force India and left with nowhere to go. There was genuine sadness in the McLaren garage as Hamilton strode off into the Mercedes tinted sunset, and perhaps a slight concern over whether they have got the right man in to replace him.
Kimi Raikkonen
Leave me alone, I know what I?m doing!? Really Kimi? Really? We all know that Raikkonen had no interest in attending the awards dinner that comes with achieving 3rd place in the standings, but this was a long winded way of attempting to dodge that particular bullet. ?Where I went off you can get back on the track by going through the support race pitlane, but you have to go through a gate. I know this as I did the same thing in 2001 and the gate was open that year. Somebody closed it this time.? To be fair, we?ve all done it. Just on a PlayStation, not in a real car. In a real race. In front of millions.
Lotus
hilst their Flying Finn was getting lost, their First Lap Frenchmans race ended early once again.
Daniel Ricciardo
utperformed by his teammate again. I wonder if Toro Rosso would be allowed to let Ricciardo drive on the Saturday and Vergne take over for Sunday?
Vitaly Petrov
is reward for securing his team 10th place and an extra £15 million pounds? To be replaced by the man he overtook.
The Ugly:
Paul Di Resta
hate to keep comparing teammates, but it can provide the most accurate representation you can get of a drivers standing. Therefore, I leave you with these two facts to ponder over ? 1. Hulkenberg qualified 6th and finished 5th, 2. Di Resta qualified 10th and was classified 19th.
Nico Rosberg
When Nico Rosberg won the Chinese Grand Prix, it sparked off a run of six races where he finished no lower than 7th. In the last 10 races, Rosberg has scored 18 points, and he has been literally pointless in the last 5. The Mercedes isn?t great, and they appear to have lacked the developmental capabilities of their rivals, but this does not reflect overly well on Rosberg either. You?d be surprised if his teammate went through 5 pointless races next season. Rosberg seems to be one of those drivers who just can?t push on to the next level ? we all thought the Shanghai win was going to provide us with the Nico Rosberg we had been expecting for years, but it just hasn?t. He has fallen backwards, and next season will be telling.? Just change 5 to 6. Nothing else to say really, as Rosberg had another nothing race that has personified his second half of the season.
Marussia
aving held on for so long, that lucrative 10th place slipped away right at the last gasp.
HRT
nd so ends one of the most tortured chapters in Formula One history. There will be very few that mourn the expected demise of HRT, and fewer still that care.
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