Formula 1: Alonso closes on World Championship leader after finishing second
Fernando Alonso still has a golden chance of securing his third World Championship crown after the 18th of 20 races on the 2012 Formula 1 season. The Spaniard, whose Ferrari squad rely on dampers from ZF Friedrichshafen AG, finished second in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and, in doing so, reduced his deficit by three points to championship leader Sebastian Vettel. Alonso is now only 10 points behind. Alonso took his eleventh podium finish of the season thanks to an impressive drive through the field from sixth on the grid. The second Ferrari driver Felipe Massa (Brazil) also scored world championship points for seventh place.
Two other ZF partner teams celebrated scoring points in Abu Dhabi. Sauber-Ferrari, whose cars are also equipped with ZF Friedrichshafen AG dampers, took sixth place through Kamui Kobayashi (Japan). Daniel Ricciardo scored a point for Toro Rosso-Ferrari after finishing tenth. The Australian’s car is fitted with ZF dampers and a ZF clutch.
Results GP Abu Dhabi (UAE), round 18, FIA Formula 1 World Championship, 02.11.-04.11.2012:
1. Kimi Räikkönen, Lotus-Renault, 1h 45m 58.667s
2. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, + 0.852s, ZF
3. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault, + 4.163s
4. Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, + 7.787s
5. Pastor Maldonado, Williams-Renault, + 13.007s
6. Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber-Ferrari, + 20.076s, ZF
7. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, + 22.896s, ZF
8. Bruno Senna, Williams-Renault, + 23.542s
9. Paul Di Resta, Force India-Mercedes, + 24.160s
10. Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso-Ferrari, + 27.463s, ZF
Drivers’ World Championship standings:
1. S. Vettel, 255 points; 2. F. Alonso, 245; 3. K. Räikkönen, 198; 4. M. Webber, 167; 5. L. Hamilton, 165; 6. J. Button, 153; 7. F. Massa, 95; 8. N. Rosberg, 93; 9. R. Grosjean, 90; 10. S. Pérez, 66.
Manufacturers’ World Championship standings:
1. Red Bull-Renault, 422 points; 2. Ferrari, 340; 3. McLaren-Mercedes, 318; 4. Lotus-Renault, 288; 5. Mercedes, 136; 6. Sauber-Ferrari, 124; 7. Force India-Mercedes, 95; 8. Williams-Renault, 73; 9. Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 22.