Formula 1: Fernando Alonso celebrates second place in Japan
Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso took second place in the Japanese Grand Prix. After 15 of 19 World Championship races the Spaniard, whose car is equipped with dampers supplied by ZF Friedrichshafen AG, now holds third place in the overall rankings behind new World Champion Sebastian Vettel and Briton Jenson Button and still has a good chance of taking the championship runner-up slot. It was the eighth podium finish for Alonso this season. Team mate Felipe Massa finished seventh and scored six points.
Sauber Ferrari driver Sergio Pérez, in whose car ZF dampers are also used, started the race from 17th on the grid but crossed the finish line in eighth position and, in doing so, scored points for the fourth time in his debut world championship season.
Result Japanese GP (J), FIA Formula 1 World Championship, round 15, 07.10-09.10.2011:
1. Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, 1h 30m 53.427s
2. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, + 1.160s, ZF
3. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault, + 2.006s
4. Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault, + 8.071s
5. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, + 24.268s
6. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, + 27.120s
7. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, + 28.240s, ZF
8. Sergio Pérez, Sauber-Ferrari, + 39.377s, ZF
9. Vitaly Petrov, Renault, + 42.607s
10. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, + 44.322s
Drivers’ World Championship standings:
1. S. Vettel, 324 points; 2. J. Button, 210; 3. F. Alonso, 202; 4. M. Webber, 194; 5. L. Hamilton, 178; 6. F. Massa, 90; 7. N. Rosberg, 63; 8. M. Schumacher, 60; 9. V. Petrov, 36; 10. N. Heidfeld, 34.
Manufacturers’ World Championship standings:
1. Red Bull-Renault, 518 points; 2. McLaren-Mercedes, 388; 3. Ferrari, 292; 4. Mercedes, 123; 5. Renault, 72; 6. Force India-Mercedes, 48; 7. Sauber-Ferrari, 40; 8. Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 29; 9. Williams-Cosworth, 5.