As the 2010 Japanese Grand Prix ends, the top of the Formula One world championship gets a bit less crowded. Mark Webber has now made a comfortable 14 point lead at the top of the table. But considering the new points system in place, Fernando Alonso and team-mate Sebastian Vettel are close on his heels at 206 points apiece.
The way the Red Bull cars are charging, I think it would be safe to say that Mark Webber could easily pull away with the championship this season. He’s a perfect blend of aggressive and technical driving, doesn’t take too many un-necessary risks like his young team-mate and has been consistent throughout the season in terms of positive results. Not to mention the Red-Bulls have made it quite a habit this season of securing pole positions for most of the races. If the trend continues, and if Mark Webber does manage to secure a pole, who knows he might just walk away with the trophy!
I’m a bit disappointed with the way things have panned out for team McLaren. They have been quite ordinary in the past 4-5 races and the recent problems with the pace of their car has only intensified matters a bit. Barring the Japanese Grand Prix they have had at least one car retired in each of the past four races! One of those can be attributed to Lewis Hamilton’s extremely charged overtaking manoeuvre which resulted in a crash in the Singapore Grand Prix. Hamilton was unlucky again with a gearbox failure in Japan which possibly cost him a podium position. If McLaren are to catch up to a raging Red Bull team and a rejuvenated Ferrari they have to turn out some magic!
Speaking of Ferrari, it’s amazing how they’ve come out with a good car mid-way through the season. With back-to-back wins in Italy and Singapore, No.1 driver Fernando Alonso is back in the fight for the world championship. One surely feels for Felipe Massa who still hasn’t been able to take advantage of those car upgrades. I’m sure that if Ferrari continues this golden streak, the championship could go down to the wire. And there’s no better track to witness such a fight than the Yas Marina Bay circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Talking of our very own Force India, times haven’t been very good. With only 2 points in the last three races, Force India has been struggling. Other mid-placed teams like Renault and Williams are easily out performing Vijay Mallya’s team. The fault though lies in the car which has been struggling with grip and down force. The brains at Force India have really got to pull up their socks if they have to realize their dream of placing a driver on the podium at the now scheduled 2011 Indian Grand Prix.
Till then....we’ve got a championship battle on our hands!
Return of the Prancing Horse!
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