“Button wins a sizzler in Suzuka
- Vettel crowned Double World Champion”
SUZUKA
PRE RACE
The sun creeps over the horizon and race day dawns at the Suzuka circuit. Not much stirs – soon this tranquil scene will be transformed as Round 15 of the F1 Championship is decided on this legendary track. It’s time to go racing!
The weather gods have bestowed a perfect day for racing: mild and sunny conditions, no hint of rain at all.
A few hours later and the stands are heaving with people; the turnout from the Japanese fans has been excellent. There are various different sections of colour visible – denoting the support for the teams racing today. The local hero, Kimui Kobayashi (Sauber-Ferrari), has been promoted from 10th to 7th on the grid (he started a qualifying lap during the third segment of Qualifying). It is great to see, that despite the tragedy of the earthquake and tsunami earlier in the year, the support for F1 in Japan is still awesome. The F1 community has also supported a number of charitable initiatives tied in with this race, and proceeds will go towards worthy causes.
The pit lane is its usual buzz of activity as preparations are made. The Driver Steward for this race is Alan Jones (1980 F. I. A. Formula 1 World Champion). You can feel the excitement and energy in the air: this is what F1 is all about!
START
A number of questions will be answered today. Will Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes be able to carry the fight to RBR-Renault and challenge for the win? Will Sebastian Vettel secure that solitary point that will see him crowned a Double World Champion at the age of 24 (the youngest ever in the history of F1 racing)? Who will challenge for second place in the Championship? Will the teams further down the grid be able to gain vital points that will be beneficial in attracting much needed sponsorships for the 2012 season? All of this will be answered in 53 lap’s time.
The grid is cleared and 24 F1 cars prepare to set off on their installation lap. Vettel backs the pack up as he returns to the start/finish straight. The reason for this is simple: F1 cars are not designed to sit stationary for lengthy periods of time… the longer they sit still the more chance there is of them overheating – they need a constant airflow to keep cool. The cars are in position once more, and Charlie Whiting (race director) begins the start sequence.
One by one the 5 red lights come on…
Tension builds – all eyes are focused on the grid – the noise is terrific – a cacophony of straining engines is about to be released down the straight into Turn 1.
In a heartbeat the red lights wink out.
We are racing in Suzuka!
RACE
Lap 1
Vettel has a good start, but Button has a better start. Vettel moves to cover Button and almost puts Button on the grass. Vettel leads into Turn 1. Hamilton takes advantage of the scrap ahead of him and slips in 2nd position. Button moves into 3rd position. The Ferrari’s of Massa and Alonso also have a good start, taking 4th and 5th positions respectively. Webber rounds off the top 6.
Behind the leaders, despite furious jostling for position, there are no major incidents or contacts heading into Turn 1.
The Order on Lap 1 is as follows:
Vettel leads, followed by Hamilton, Button, Massa, Alonso, Webber, Schumacher, Di Resta, Sutil and Petrov.
Excerpts from Button’s race radio reveal that he is clearly unhappy with the aggressive start tactics of Vettel.
Lap 2
Cars 1 (Vettel) and 4 (Button) are under investigation by the race stewards for an incident at the start of the race.
Lap 3
Vettel sets the fastest lap: 1:40:120
Lap 4
Vettel sets the fastest lap: 1:39:852
Lap 6
Alonso takes Massa for 4th position.
Liuzzi has a minor “off” at the “S” curves, he soon regains the track.
Lap 7
Barichello takes Maldonado for 13th position.
There will be no further action taken by the stewards regarding the incident at the start between cars 1 (Vettel) and 4 (Button).
Lap 8
Button takes Hamilton for 2nd position.
Lap 9
Hamilton pits – from 3rd – rejoins 11th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,091s. Pit-stop time: 3,7s).
Liuzzi pits.
Vettel pits – from 1st – rejoins 6th.
(Pit Lane time: 22,344s. Pit-stop time: 4,6s).
Schumacher pits – from 7th – rejoins 14th.
The Order on Lap 10 is as follows:
Button leads, followed by Alonso (@1,283s), Massa (@3,933s), Webber (@5,039s), Di Resta, Vettel, Petrov, Hamilton, Buemi and Kobayashi.
The racing upfront is very close, with mere seconds separating the top drivers.
Lap 10
Button pits – from 1st – rejoins 3rd.
(Pit Lane time: 21,094s. Pit-stop time: 3,5s).
Alonso pits – from 2nd – rejoins 4th.
Webber pits – from 4th – rejoins 6th.
Di Resta pits – from 5th position.
Kobayashi pits from 9th position.
Kovalainen pits.
Lap 12
Massa pits – from 1st – rejoins 5th.
Trulli pits.
Ricciardo pits.
Lap 13
Buemi leaves the track and parks his STR-Ferrari. His right front tyre came off: it appears as though it was not fastened properly during his pit stop.
Barichello pits.
Rosberg pits.
(Pit Lane time: 20,575s. Pit-stop time: 3,2s).
Glock pits.
Button sets the fastest lap: 1:39:187
The Order on Lap 14 is as follows:
Vettel leads, followed by Button (@2,663s), Alonso (@4,713s), Hamilton (@6,532s), Massa (@8,479s), Webber (@9,070s), Petrov, Schumacher, Perez and Sutil.
After the first round of pit stops it is still very close upfront and anybody’s race still to win.
Lap 15
Schumacher takes Petrov for 7th position – good move.
Lap 16
Senna pits.
Kobayashi takes Alguersuari.
Lap 17
Maldonado pits.
Lap 18
Alguersuari pits.
Lap 19
Petrov pits – from 8th – rejoins 14th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,304s. Pit-stop time: 3,7s).
Lap 20
Vettel pits – from 1st – rejoins 5th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,596s. Pit-stop time: 3,9s).
Webber pits – from 5th – rejoins 7th.
Both RBR-Renault came into the pits at virtually the same time, it was only some stellar work by the team mechanics that prevented Webber having to wait too long.
Lap 21
Button pits – from 1st – rejoins 4th.
(Pit Lane time: 20,713s).
Button crucially rejoins the race ahead of Vettel.
Perez pits.
There is contact between Massa and Hamilton. Their front tyres briefly touch and Massa’s front wing is also slightly damaged. It is difficult to ascertain who was at fault here. After their antics in Singapore, these two seem to keep meeting on the track.
Lap 22
Alonso pits – rejoins 4th.
Hamilton pits – rejoins 7th.
(Pit Lane time: 22,821s. Pit-stop time: 5,5s).
Webber sets the fastest lap: 1:39:026
Lap 23
Massa pits – rejoins 6th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,214s. Pit-stop time: 3,6s).
Button sets the fastest lap: 1:38:498
As fuel loads drop and the track “rubbers in” the lap times are tumbling.
Lap 24
Ricciardo pits.
The Safety Car comes out. There is debris in Turns 7 and 16, the marshals need time to clear this debris from the track; which would prove dangerous under normal racing conditions.
The Order on Lap 24 is as follows:
Button leads, followed by Vettel, Alonso, Webber, Massa, Schumacher, Hamilton, Di Resta, Kobayashi and Barichello.
Lap 25
There is a flurry of pit stops as the drivers take advantage of the Safety Car period.
Schumacher pits – from 6th – rejoins 7th.
(Pit Lane time: 22,570s. Pit-stop time: 5,0s).
Di Resta pits – from 8th – rejoins 10th.
Kobayashi pits – from 9th – rejoins 13th.
(Pit Lane time: 22,291s. Pit-stop time: 3,9s).
Barichello pits – from 10th – rejoins 12th.
Rosberg pits – rejoins 14th.
Lap 26
Cars 3 (Hamilton) and 6 (Massa) are being investigated by the race stewards for a racing incident.
Lap 27
The Safety Car departs the track and we are racing once more.
No further action will be taken by the race stewards for the incident between cars 3 (Hamilton) and 6 (Massa).
Lap 29
Button sets the fastest lap: 1:37:576
The Order on Lap 30 is as follows:
Button leads, followed by Vettel (@1,611s), Alonso (@1,732s), Webber (@0,589s), Massa (@0,090s), Hamilton (@04,22s), Schumacher (@3,403s), Perez (@2,186s), Di Resta (@2,498) and Petrov.
Lap 30
Button sets the fastest lap: 1:37:519
The McLaren-Mercedes driver is really flying now.
Sutil takes Petrov for 10th position.
Rosberg takes Petrov for 11th position.
Lap 32
There is very close racing amongst the top 6 positions, and indeed further down the pack also.
Lap 34
Vettel pits – from 2nd – rejoins 11th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,705. Pit-stop time: 3,7s).
Lap 35
Webber pits – from 3rd.
(Pit Lane time: 21,455. Pit-stop time: 3,3s).
Lap 36
Hamilton pits – rejoins 10th.
Senna pits.
Lap 37
Button pits – from 1st – rejoins 3rd.
(Pit Lane time: 20,998. Pit-stop time: 3,3s).
Massa pits – rejoins 9th.
Alguersuari pits.
Liuzzi pits.
Lap 38
Alonso pits – from 1st – rejoins 3rd.
Hamilton takes Massa for 7th position – a brilliant move in the DRS zone on the start/finish straight.
Webber takes Rosberg for 6th position – great move.
Glock pits.
Lap 39
Vettel sets the fastest lap: 1:36:931
Lap 40
Perez sets the fastest lap: 1:36:569
Ricciardo pits.
The Order on Lap 40 is as follows:
Schumacher leads, followed by Button, Alonso, Vettel, Webber, Rosberg, Hamilton, Massa, Kobayashi and Maldonado.
Lap 41
Perez takes Maldonado for 10th position – good move.
Hamilton takes Rosberg for 6th position in the DRS zone.
Button is putting pressure on Schumacher.
Schumacher pits – from 1st – rejoins 6th.
Lap 42
Rosberg pits – from 5th – rejoins 13th.
Lap 43
Amongst the top 3 drivers the racing is still very close, either one of them can still take the victory.
Lap 46
Sutil takes Kobayashi for 9th position – a great move.
Petrov takes Di Resta for 11th position.
Lap 47
Petrov takes Kobayashi for 10th – good move.
The Order on Lap 47 is as follows:
Button leads, followed by Alonso (@3,775s), Vettel (@1,462s), Webber (@2,585s), Hamilton (@12,141s), Schumacher (@2,206s), Massa (@0523s), Perez, Sutil and Petrov.
Lap 49
Alonso is on a charge and is steadily catching Button.
Lap 50
Button leads, followed by Alonso (@1,429s) and Vettel (@1,811s).
The time splits between the top 3 are very close.
Lap 53
Button sets the fastest lap: 1:36:568
A good response by the race leader to the pressure from Alonso.
Button takes the win!
It has been a brilliant drive from Button to win an awesome race in a time of 1:30:53:427, with a total distance of 307:471km covered.
2. Alonso (@1,160s)
3. Vettel (2,006s)
4. Webber (@8,071s)
5. Hamilton (@24,268s)
6. Schumacher (@27,172s)
7. Massa
8. Perez
9. Petrov
10. Rosberg
Retired: 23/24 starters finished the race. Buemi was the only retirement (front wheel nut loosened).
SUMMARY
Button parked his car at the pit lane exit and did not do a victory lap. He may have been short of fuel, and possibly had just enough to respond to the pressure from Alonso during the closing laps of the Grand Prix. Despite the start, Button had a brilliant race. He was kept honest by Alonso and Vettel who pushed him hard all the way to the line. Ultimately, tyre and pit stop strategy decided this race. Webber had a good race, as did Hamilton and Schumacher. Perez had a great drive, starting 17th and finishing 8th, even managing to set a fastest lap along the way.
In Parc Ferme there are jubilant scenes as Vettel jumps out of his car, stands on the nose of his RB7 and acknowledges the cheering crowd with a double-fisted salute. He’s done it! Sebastian Vettel has won the Drivers’ World Championship! For a Formula 1 driver, there is no better moment in his racing career. It is great to see the camaraderie between the top 3 drivers as both Alonso and Button congratulate the new World Champion. The RBR-Renault team is clearly ecstatic and cheer Vettel on. There will be a few celebrations in Suzuka tonight!
The drivers head off to the weigh-in area and then a brief respite before appearing on the podium. The podium ceremony is both elaborate and formal. The trophies presented to the top 3 are magnificent. On the podium, we have 2 Double World Champions (Alonso and Vettel) and a World Champion (Button): it is not everyday that you will see this in Formula 1. The traditional champagne ceremony is a great one: the Mumm champagne tastes particularly good for Vettel. What a race!
This is Formula 1!
It has been an awesome Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka – a closely fought epic of a race; culminating in the crowning of a new World Champion.
NEXT STOP:
The next race is the Korean Grand Prix at Yeongam on the 16th October 2011. For the teams it is a quick turnaround time, as they pack it all up, travel, and then prepare to race again this coming weekend. The Drivers’ Championship may be concluded, but the race for 2nd position is still on, with 4 drivers still capable of clinching second. There are also many more valuable Constructors’ Championship points still up for grabs. There is everything to race for.
Written by Mark Batchelder, Road and Race’s F1 Connoisseur
