Japanese Grand Prix 2012

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It had been a significant week in terms of driver contracts for 2013. The big news obviously being the confirmation of Lewis Hamilton's departure from McLaren: the team that nurtured him for the past 13 years. Hamilton had signed a three year deal with Mercedes to partner old karting team mate: Nico Rosberg. Not long after the news was out of Hamilton leaving McLaren, McLaren announced they had signed Sauber's star: Sergio Perez to take the number 2 seat in 2013. Hamilton stated that he is 'ready for a new challenge,' hence the move from a team that on paper wins 1 in every 4 grand prix to a team who has only won 1 grand prix in the last three years. Now that Hamilton had taken the seat for Mercedes it meant that seven time world champion; Michael Schumacher had nowhere to go. There were rumours here and there about a drive with Sauber now that Perez had left or a link with Ferrari to take Felipe Massa's seat. However Schumacher announced on Friday that he would retire at the end of the season. Bringing to an end what was an unsuccessful run to reboot his career after returning to the sport in 2010 to drive for Mercedes.     

With much of the speculations regarding the 2013 driver line ups out of the way, it was time to concentrate on the championship once again. The Suzuka circuit in Japan played host to round 15 of the championship. A race that is very popular amongst the drivers as well as the ever supportive Japanese fans. This circuit has played witness to many famous moments, most notably in 1989 where Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost came together at the Casio chicane and Senna made an 'illegal' restart. But since 2009, Suzuka has seen domination by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, claiming 4 out of 4 pole positions since 2009, including 2012. Vettel also won the 53 lap race making his record at the Suzuka circuit, 3 out of 4 race wins in the last four years. Vettel is also the first driver this season to have scored back to back wins, after his inherited victory in Singapore from Lewis Hamilton. The win puts Vettel only within 4 points of championship leader; Fernando Alonso (Ferrari).

The most important factor at Suzuka for the drivers was the tyre wear. Pirelli had brought their yellow trim soft tyre and silver trim hard tyre for this race weekend. The end results would come down to how well did the driver manage his tyres and did he two-stop or three-stop. Initially from the first practice session, it seemed McLaren had the upper hand, but Red Bull had topped the next two practice sessions before qualifying. Red Bull did not stop in practice, they showed their hand in qualifying as well, claiming their first front row lockout of the year. Vettel was on pole and his team mate Mark Webber lined up second. After dominating qualifying for the last four rounds, McLaren struggled only managing to put Jenson Button P3 but he would drop five places for an unscheduled gearbox change. Hamilton, who was in dire need for a strong points finish after his retirement in Singapore, only went ninth fastest. Ferrari again showed lack of pace, further confirming that the F2012 desperately needs upgrades if it is still going to keep Alonso's championship hopes intact. Alonso was P7 while his team mate Massa was P11. Lotus who have still not won a race this year although showing tremendous race pace, still wait on their 'double DRS' system to be ready. Kimi Raikkonen who sits third in the championship (37 points behind Alonso) has emphasised in earlier races that qualifying is important if they want a win. Raikkonen was eighth fastest meanwhile his team mate Romain Grosjean was fifth fastest. Raikkonen had a spin in Q3 on the spoon corner which had upset his lap and had brought out yellow flags whilst had slowed a few cars down in the process, though Raikkonen said that apart from that 'we're still not fast enough.'  Mercedes still continued on poor form with both cars out in Q2. Rosberg managing P15 while his retiring team mate Schumacher was P13 but would drop 10 places due to his penalty earned after his collision with Jean-Eric Vergne in Singapore. Although several of the top teams struggled, it was Sauber who showed strong pace in qualifying. Kamui Kobayashi in front of his home fans would inherit third place after Button's penalty and Perez would start in P5.

Once the again the start of the race was marred by accidents. Alonso was the first victim, claiming that Raikkonen touched him going into the first turn, forcing Alonso to touch the turf on the outside and spun. Rosberg was caught in the same melee. Both Alonso and Rosberg had to retire from the race which was a massive blow to Alonso's championship lead. Then coming out of the first turn, Webber was hit by a charging Grosjean. Both cars did not retire, however Webber had labelled Grosjean a 'first lap nutcase,' obviously referring to the massive pileup on the first turn at Spa, where Grosjean charged into Hamilton taking both of them and Alonso out of the race. Webber also said that Grosjean needs to 'have another holiday,' this time referring to the one race ban he was awarded for the Spa incident. Grosjean only received a 10 second stop and go penalty which had severely impacted on his race position. This string of incidents had forced the safety car out which played well into the hands of Massa and Button who started down the grid. With Vettel out ahead in the lead for pretty much the entire race, it was a three way fight between Massa, Kobayashi and Button for podium places during the first half of the race. Eventually after the second phase of pit stops after lap 30, Massa had confirmed himself in second place, with a gap of more than 5 seconds over Kobayashi who then came under pressure from 2011 winner; Button for third place. In the end the gap was less than half a second when they both crossed the line to the delight of the Japanese fans. Grosjean's penalty had forced him to go through the pits three times including his two tyre stops; he finished 2 laps behind the leader in nineteenth. Perez was locked in a battle with Hamilton (the driver he is replacing) for the second time during the race on lap 35. The first encounter was won by Perez, but this time Hamilton was victor as Perez came off at the Degna 2 corner, beaching his Sauber on the gravel and forcing him to retire from the race. Hamilton went on to finish P5, more than 21 seconds behind his team mate. Raikkonen gained some places from his starting position only to finish P6 and Webber snagged some points ahead of countryman Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) in P9. The Australians had an epic battle in Singapore for the same positions only then, Ricciardo finished ahead of Webber.  

Kobayashi's first podium in his career meant that he is only the second Japanese driver to have scored a podium since Aguri Suzuki in 1990. The popular win will serve greatly for Sauber deciding his future with the team amongst speculation that he will be replaced next season due to lack of performance with a strong car. Massa also made a point that could save his career with Ferrari, getting his first podium since Korea 2010. There has been plenty of talk that Massa might be replaced by the likes of Force India's Nico Hulkenberg or ex Force India driver Adrian Sutil. Ferrari president; Luca di Montezemolo believes that 'Massa is still the man for the job.' The main contender from the rumour mill for the Massa seat was Perez and now he is confirmed for McLaren next year, it is believed that Massa has a higher chance of retaining his seat with Ferrari.

Vettel's lights to chequered flag finish meant that he is only now 4 points behind Alonso in the championship. Red Bull have managed to turn around what had been an average season into one that could play into their hands in the last five races that remain in the championship, with many predicting that it'll go down to the wire in the last round in Brazil. Raikkonen still hold on to his third place in the championship but is 37 points behind Alonso. Round by round, Lotus elude their first win of the season as they're development on new upgrades including the 'double DRS' system are delayed yet again. Hamilton now has a deficit of 41 points over the leader, after his retirement from Singapore from what was a potential win. Still Hamilton has vowed 'not to give up,' trying to win the championship this season and that it'd look good 'if he had the number 1 on his car next year.' Button also said that he won't give up although realistically his chances look bleak. McLaren team principal; Martin Whitmarsh also emphasised how important it is to win the constructers championship, now that McLaren are 41 points behind leaders Red Bull. Only five rounds remain the 2012 championship and still it is unclear who will be victorious this year. Many teams like McLaren and Lotus claim that they have upgrades on the way, the question will they be there on time to stop this rhythm that Vettel has started. Can Ferrari also give Alonso a car that can secure him a championship win this season?  

Hopefully the next round in Korea can make things clearer!


Round 15 Top Ten Finishers

1. S. Vettel - GER - Red Bull Racing
2. F. Massa - BRA - Scuderia Ferrari
3. K. Kobayashi - JAP - Sauber Ferrari
4. J. Button - GBR - McLaren Mercedes
5. L. Hamilton - GBR - McLaren Mercedes
6. K. Raikkonen - FIN - Lotus Renault
7. N. Hulkenberg - GER - Force India Mercedes
8. P. Maldonado - VEN - Williams Renault
9. M. Webber - AUS - Red Bull Racing
10. D. Ricciardo - AUS - Scuderia Toro Rosso

WDC Standings
1. F. Alonso - SPA - Scuderia Ferrari - 194
2. S. Vettel - GER - Red Bull Racing - 190
3. K. Raikkonen - FIN - Lotus Renault - 157
4. L. Hamilton - GBR - McLaren Mercedes - 152
5. M. Webber - AUS - Red Bull Racing - 134
6. J. Button - GBR - McLaren Mercedes - 131
7. N. Rosberg - GER - Mercedes AMG  - 93
8. R. Grosjean - FRA - Lotus Renault - 82
9. F. Massa - BRA - Scuderia Ferrari - 69
10. S. Perez - MEX - Sauber Ferrari - 66


WCC Standings

1. Red Bull Racing - 324
2. McLaren Mercedes - 283
3. Scuderia Ferrari - 263
4. Lotus Renault - 239
5. Mercedes AMG - 136
6. Sauber Ferrari - 116
7. Force India Mercedes - 81
8. Williams Renault - 58
9. Scuderia Toro Rosso - 15
10. Marussia Cosworth - 0
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