Japanese Grand Prix race report

Sebastian Vettel has won the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka after a dominant drive in his Red Bull Renault, keeping his World Championship hopes alive as well as those of his team in the Constructors Championship.

The German only encountered one challenge from the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton into the first corner at the start, however this was unsuccessful with Hamilton slotting into second position. Championship leader Jenson Button suffered at the start and fell to 12th position from 10th on the grid behind the BMW of Robert Kubica and the Ferrari of Giancarlo Fisichella. The Englishman managed to pass both these drivers to put him back into his starting position within the first few laps.

Vettel stamped his authority on the race immediately and built a comfortable cushion between himself and Hamilton in second place with Jarno Trulli holding a solid third position in his Toyota. The race developed to be largely a procession with any changes of position occurring mainly during the pitstop phases.

With only nine laps left in the race Jaime Alguersuari hage a large accident at the 130R corner in his Toro Rosso that saw hi impact the barriers on the inside of the circuit at high speed. This resulting impact brought out the safety car and bunched the field together. Alguersuari was removed from the circuit on a stretcher but appeared to be conscious and in good spirits.

The safety car intervention saw Nico Rosberg keep track position ahead of the Brawn’s of Button and Barrichello with the Englishman claiming after the race that Rosberg had gained four seconds illegally behind the safety car. This was a significant claim as if Rosberg was penalised 25 seconds for this transgression Brawn would gain the Constructors Championship due to the two extra points they would be awarded. However after the race there was no penalty for Nico Rosberg and the Constructors Championship remained open.

With just five laps left to run the safety car peeled into the pitlane and the race restarted. There were no changes of position with Hamiltons challenge on Trulli thwarted after a problem with the KERS system on his McLaren.

With only two rounds left to run in the championship three drivers remain in contention for the crown. Despite the slim chances Vettel may have he will be more than aware of Kimi Raikkonen’s championship win in 2007 and be mindful of the fact that anything is possible in F1.