F1: Ichiban says Vettel as he wins the Japanese Grand Prix
It was raceday at the F1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka track and all eyes were on the Red Bulls out there. But before the race began, the drivers honoured Maria de Villota with a moment of silence.
By Ameya Naik
It was raceday at the F1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka track and all eyes were on the Red Bulls out there. But before the race began, the drivers honoured Maria de Villota with a moment of silence.
The front grid was dominated by the Red Bulls with Mark Webber securing pole position yesterday. The red lights turned green and time Vettel didn’t get off to a flyer. Vettel got off to a rough start when he clipped Lewis Hamilton's right rear tyre before Turn 1, forcing the Mercedes driver to retire after the ninth lap due to a puncture and associated damage.
After making his final pit stop of the race in Lap 37, Vettel was on a fresh set of tyres and the Suzuka track gave him the much needed pace and grip. In the closing laps (Lap 41) of the race it was Vettel who passed Grosjean(who was leading the pack) and took his car to the chequered flag. This is Vettel’s fifth win on the trot. He will have to wait for his Formula One title though as his closest rival Ferrari driver Alonso, finished fourth.
It was a tough battle between Grosjean and Webber and the Red Bull driver zoomed past the Lotus on the penultimate lap to give the Red Bulls 1-2 on the podium. Grosjean crossed the finish line in 3rd place.
Grosjean was bidding to become the first French driver to win a Grand Prix since Olivier Panis at Monaco in 1996 and it would have been a dream come true for the Lotus-Renault driver.
All eyes on India now, as the troops move here in the last week of October. Will India be the place where Vettel wins his 4th Formula One Championship crown? There will be many reactions to that question but all we know is that it’s still Game On!
