Formula 1: Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso finishes season as championship runner-up
Fernando Alonso, who relies on ZF Sachs Race Engineering dampers in his Ferrari, finished seventh at the Formula 1 finale in Abu Dhabi. As a result, he concluded the season as championship runner-up. The Spaniard, who had led the world championship for some time, was defeated in the title race by only four points. Alonso’s team mate Felipe Massa finished the final event before the winter break in tenth place.
Best driver representing the Mercedes GP team was Nico Rosberg. The German, in whose car ZF Sachs damper technology is also used, took fourth place. Record World Champion Michael Schumacher retired from the race early on after a spin.
The season ended on a high point for Jaime Alguersuari (Scuderia Toro Rosso) who relies on ZF Sachs clutches and dampers in his car. Alguersuari finished the race in Abu Dhabi in ninth and, in doing so, scored points for the third time this season.
Result, GP Abu Dhabi (UAE), round 19, FIA Formula 1 World Championship, 12.11-14.11.2010:
1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1h 39m 36.837s
2. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, + 10.162s
3. Jenson Button, McLaren, + 11.047s
4. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, + 30.737s, ZF Sachs
5. Robert Kubica, Renault, + 39.026s
6. Vitaly Petrov, Renault, + 43.520s
7. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, + 43.797s, ZF Sachs
8. Mark Webber, Red Bull, + 44.243s.
9. Jaime Alguersuari, Scuderia Toro Rosso, + 50.201s, ZF Sachs
10. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, + 50.868s, ZF Sachs
Final standings Drivers’ World Championship:
1. S. Vettel, 256 points; 2. F. Alonso, 252; 3. M. Webber, 242; 4. L. Hamilton, 240; 5. J. Button, 214; 6. F. Massa, 144; 7. N. Rosberg, 142; 8. R. Kubica, 136; 9. M. Schumacher, 72; 10. A. Sutil, 47.
Final standings Manufacturers’ World Championship:
1. Red Bull, 498 points; 2. McLaren, 454; 3. Ferrari, 396; 4. Mercedes, 214; 5. Renault, 163; 6. Williams, 69; 7. Force India, 68; 8. Sauber, 44; 9. Scuderia Toro Rosso, 13.