Formula 1: Alonso on the podium in India
Strong showing by Fernando Alonso: at the Indian Grand Prix the Ferrari driver, whose car is equipped with dampers from ZF Friedrichshafen AG, fought from fifth on the grid to take second and claim a podium place. In the overall standings, Alonso holds second place only 13 points behind leader Sebastian Vettel and thus keeps his championship hopes alive. Team mate Felipe Massa also produced a good race in the near 30 degree heat in Noida. By finishing sixth he scored eight valuable points. After 17 of the 20 races this season, Ferrari is second in the Manufacturers’ Championship with 316 points behind Red Bull (407 points).
With Sauber-Ferrari (Kamui Kobayashi, Sergio Pérez) and Toro Rosso-Ferrari (Jean-Eric Vergne, Daniel Ricciardo) two other teams rely on ZF damper technology.
Result GP India (IND), round 17, FIA Formula 1 World Championship, 26.10-28.10.2012:
1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault, 1h 31m 10.744s
2. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, + 9.437s ZF
3. Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault, + 13.217s
4. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, + 13.909
5. Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, + 26.266s
6. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, + 44.674s ZF
7. Kimi Räikkönen, Lotus-Renault, + 45.227s
8. Nico Hülkenberg, Force India-Mercedes, + 54.998s
9. Romain Grosjean, Lotus-Renault, + 56.103s
10. Bruno Senna, Williams-Renault, + 1m 14.975s
Drivers’ World Championship standings:
1. S. Vettel, 240 points; 2. F. Alonso, 227; 3. K. Räikkönen, 173; 4. M. Webber, 167; 5. L. Hamilton, 165; 6. J. Button, 141; 7. N. Rosberg, 93; 8. R. Grosjean, 90; 9. F. Massa, 89; 10. S. Pérez, 66.
Manufacturers’ World Championship standings:
1. Red Bull-Renault, 407 points; 2. Ferrari, 316; 3. McLaren-Mercedes, 306; 4. Lotus-Renault, 263; 5. Mercedes, 136; 6. Sauber-Ferrari, 116; 7. Force India-Mercedes, 93; 8. Williams-Renault, 59; 9. Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 21.