SEBASTIAN VETTEL - 2012 WORLD CHAMPION
Its over, and what a race! If Formula One was always like the last two races everyone would watch. Brazil is almost always exciting which is why it is the last race on the schedule. To leave everyone on a high note. The added attraction was that it was the deciding race for the 2012 World Championship. That doesn't always happen, but I am sure that most fans like it to hold off until the last race. Vettel and Alonso were the only two that had a chance with Vettel 13 points up on Alonso. Since races in Brazil hardly ever escape rain that was going to be a factor. Both of these drivers are good in the rain.
Starting right in the first lap Vettel got punted, turning him around on the course and dropping him to 22nd. Being the excellent driver that he is he made it through the pack to 6th place. And then disaster...a problem on a tire change delayed him in the pits. Came back out in 17th place. Oh, well, he just had to start over. Through the pack again to 6th place where he stayed until the end of the race. Sixth place was just enough to make him the champion by 3 points. Vettel is the youngest driver to claim three championships let alone three in a row.
Alonso came in second which was just not enough....he needed a first place. Following him was his teammate Massa who has had a terrific last half of the season. Massa cried on the podium, Brazil is his home country and it was a long road to get there. First place went to Jensen Button. After Hamilton got nerffed Button was there to grab the top spot.
Kudos go to Nico Hulkenberg from Force India who led the race from lap 19 to lap 55 when he slipped into Hamilton. They gave him a penalty which I disagree with. He slid into Hamilton in the rain....cars were sliding all over the place. He had to do a pit drive-thru at 60 miles per hour which cost him about 25 seconds. By the end of the race he was back in fifth place. If he had won it would have been a huge accomplishment for both team and driver.
Michael Schumacher drove his last race, going into his second retirement. Looks like quite a few drivers don't have seats for next year. Some drivers are jumping to other teams. Most notable is Hamilton leaving McLaren for Mercedes, Perez leaving Sauber for McLaren and Hulkenberg leaving Force India for Sauber. Right now I'll bet Force India is thinking that they didn't make the right decision by letting Hulkenberg go. I am sure there will be some new drivers next year.
All in all, it was a great year for Formula One. Of course there are some races that just don't cut it, but a great year anyway. As always, I am looking forward to next year.
FELIPE MASSA - 3RD, FERNANDO ALONSO - 2ND, JENSEN BUTTON - 1ST
photo credit: 2012 Sutton Images via 2012 gpupdate.net
