Formula 1: Alonso consolidates overall third place with winners’ rostrum position
Fernando Alonso of Spain is still on course to come third overall in the drivers’ rankings of the Formula 1 World Championship thanks to his third-place win in the Grand Prix of India. Alonso, whose Ferrari is equipped with dampers made by ZF Friedrichshafen AG, started the 17th race of the season and the first Grand Prix to be held on Indian asphalt in third place and managed to defend this position throughout the 60 laps of the race. This was therefore the ninth top-three position of the season for the two-time world champion.
Alonso’s compatriot Jaime Alguersuari also picked up four championship points by finishing in eighth place. Alguersuari’s Toro Rosso is likewise equipped with dampers and a clutch manufactured by ZF.
The Mexican Sergio Pérez driving for Sauber-Ferrari, who use ZF dampers, put on an impressive catch-up performance. Not being deterred by a three-place grid penalty, Pérez started in 20th place and succeeded in making good no less than ten places, picking up a championship point in the process.
Results GP India (IND), 17th round, FIA Formula 1 World Championship, 28 Oct-30 Oct 2011:
1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault, 1h 30m 35.002s
2. Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, + 8.433s
3. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, + 24.301s, ZF
4. Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault, + 25.529s
5. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, + 1m 05.421s
6. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, + 1m 06.857s
7. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, + 1m 24.183s
8. Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso-Ferrari, - 1 lap, ZF
9. Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes, - 1 lap
10. Sergio Pérez, Sauber-Ferrari, - 1 lap, ZF
Drivers’ World Championship standings:
1. S. Vettel, 374 points; 2. J. Button, 240; 3. F. Alonso, 227; 4. M. Webber, 221; 5. L. Hamilton, 202; 6. F. Massa, 98; 7. N. Rosberg, 75; 8. M. Schumacher, 70; 9. V. Petrov, 36; 10. N. Heidfeld, 34.
Manufacturers’ World Championship standings:
1. Red Bull-Renault, 595 points; 2. McLaren-Mercedes, 442; 3. Ferrari, 325; 4. Mercedes, 145; 5. Renault, 72; 6. Force India-Mercedes, 51; 7. Sauber-Ferrari and Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 41 each; 9. Williams-Cosworth, 5.