Sebastian Vettel won the F1 Korean Grand Prix from pole position, beating Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean to the chequered flag.
Vettel clinched his 34th win and ensured a strong run of form, which looks set to bring him the hampionship again. Now with 272 pointsto his name, ahead of Fernando Alonso’s 195 and Kimi Raikkonen moved ahead of Lewis Hamilton for third in the championship.
Unless he wins and Alonso doesn’t finish in Japan, it is likely Vettel will clinch in either India or Abu Dhabi,
But it wasn’t an easy race for the F1 Red Bull driver, as the tyres were marginal and Lotus was shaping up to challenge him in the closing laps, using its better tyre life.
Tyres, again was the topic of the day after the spat between Fernando Alonso and Pirelli’s Paul Hembery yesterday. Sergio Perez’s front right tyre failure brought out the first of two safety cars. The limitation was the right front tyre, which grained for most of the competitors
The second safety car was deployed for Mark Webber’s car burning on the side of the track.
The race really came alive in the closing stages after the second safety car, with some fantastic racing between Hulkenberg, Hamilton and Alonso.
At the start, Vettel got away cleanly and untroubled. Grosjean passed Hamilton for second place into Turn 3. Chaos consumed the drivers behind, with five abreast on the approach to the corner, which included both the Ferraris. Massa spun on the corner apex, almost clouting his team mate, while Hulkenberg grabbed fifth place ahead of the Spaniard. Rosberg held fourth.
Raikkonen was a man on the move, another text book performance from the Finn after a disappointing qualifying session. The safety car came out on lap 32 following a right front tyre failure for Sergio Perez in the McLaren. Raikkonen moved up to third place.
At the restart on lap 36, Vettel had both Lotus cars behind him. Grosjean and Vettel on tyres of the same age. Force India driver Adrian Sutil lost control of his car and smashed into Webber, damaging the oil radiator and the Red Bull caught fire. The car was left burning for a long time and the response of the marshals had to be questioned here.
Meanwhile Raikkonen had passed Grosjean for second place, so he lined up behind Vettel. Hulkenberg was fourth, Hamilton fifth, Alonso sixth and Button seventh.
At the restart, Hamilton and Alonso battled, but Hamilton held the fifth place. But all eyes were on Hulkenberg and the German did a brilliant job to hold Hamilton behind, but on lap 48 Hamilton passed into Turn 1, Hulkenberg re-passed him and then Alonso and Hamilton battled.
Grosjean was frustrated to be held behind Raikkonen in the final stages as his tyres were fresher. It came about because he made a mistake which allowed Raikkonen to pass him. Vettel crossed the chequered flag followed by Raikkonen and Grosjean in 2nd and third.
The F1 teams move onto Japan next week and take the Suzuka track for another amazing race.
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