Formula 1: Alonso still in thick of title battle – third place in Japan
Fernando Alonso still has a good chance of winning his third Formula 1 World Championship title. The Spaniard, whose Ferrari is equipped with ZF Sachs Race Engineering dampers, took third position in the Japanese Grand Prix and in doing so claimed his eighth podium finish of the season. Starting from fourth position at Suzuka, the World Champion from 2005 and 2006, even moved up one place during the race. Alonso shares second place in the Drivers’ Championship standings after 16 of 19 races. He is only 14 points behind championship leader Mark Webber (Red Bull).
Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher scored eight world championship points in Japan thanks to his sixth place. The German’s Mercedes team also relies on ZF Sachs Race Engineering dampers.
The Sauber team celebrated its most successful weekend to date in the 2010 Formula 1 season. The Japanese Kamui Kobayashi and German Nick Heidfeld take home ten points for seventh and eighth positions respectively. The Swiss based racing team also races with high-tech dampers from Schweinfurt.
Result GP Japan (J), round 16, Formula 1 World Championship, 08.10.-10.10.2010:
1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1h 30m 27.323s
2. Mark Webber, Red Bull, + 0.905s
3. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, + 2.721s, ZF Sachs
4. Jenson Button, McLaren, + 13.522s
5. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, + 39.595s
6. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, + 59.933s, ZF Sachs
7. Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber, + 1m 04.038s, ZF Sachs
8. Nick Heidfeld, Sauber, + 1m 09.648s, ZF Sachs
9. Rubens Barrichello, Williams, + 1m 10.846s
10. Sébastien Buemi, Scuderia Toro Rosso, + 1m 12.806s, ZF Sachs
Drivers’ World Championship standings:
1. M. Webber, 220 points; 2. F. Alonso and S. Vettel, 206 each; 4. L. Hamilton, 192; 5. J. Button, 189; 6. F. Massa, 128; 7. N. Rosberg, 122; 8. R. Kubica, 114; 9. M. Schumacher, 54; 10. A. Sutil, 47.
Manufacturers’ World Championship standings:
1. Red Bull, 426 points; 2. McLaren, 381; 3. Ferrari, 334; 4. Mercedes, 176; 5. Renault, 133; 6. Force India, 60; 7. Williams, 58; 8. Sauber, 37; 9. Scuderia Toro Rosso, 11.