Giancarlo Fisichella
Red Bull Still in the Hunt
by Erik C. Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
Sebastian Vettel kept the Red Bull team’s title hopes alive for another weekend after leading start to finish in this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. The German wore his Teflon driving suit and was untouchable throughout the race.
Qualifying was basically a crap shoot with the weather significantly affecting any chances of getting a fast lap in, and then most of the drivers were given penalties for passing during a yellow. The team hasn’t been mathematically eliminated by Brawn, but the stars will need to line up perfectly for there to be a real chance.
Jarno Trulli knew that it was important to do well. After all, he was driving a Toyota on a track that Toyota built. The team also had the burden of being down one driver after Timo Glock cut his leg in a shunt earlier in the weekend. Trulli’s second place finish will likely allow him to keep his job for 2010 if the team decides that they are still committed to the sport after spending what seems like the GDP of most small African nations for each of the last several years. That money could have been better spent on designing floor mats that don’t slide under the accelerator pedal in several Toyota and Lexus models…
Kimi Raikkonen
Lewis Hamilton finished out the podium this week. The reigning world champion has had a lack luster drive this season, and this was one of his better drives. The Brit suffered from a failed KERS system, but was still able to keep Kimi Raikkonen from capitalizing on the situation.
Kimi’s fourth place finish earned him enough points to keep ahead of Lewis in the driver’s championship, and Ferrari ahead of McLaren in the constructor’s championship, but the gaps are becoming uncomfortable for the managers in Maranello. Ferrari expressed their dissatisfaction with the Finn by signing a two-time world champion who seems to not mind surrounding himself with known cheaters, but who has never been personally caught himself. That’s right, Alonso is coming to Ferrari. Now that Flavio has been banned from the sport, Fernando felt that it was his right to take the title of the biggest ego in the sport. He just needs to stay on the right side of Bernie and Max, and his money making ability should have very few limits.
Giancarlo Fisichella
Nico Rosberg and Nick Heidfeld both had rather uneventful drives and finished fifth and sixth, respectively.
The last two points paying positions went to the Brawn cars, with Barichello out driving Jenson Button, again. The former Honda cars were in what tended to be their better performances, but the team just couldn’t get the set up correct this weekend. They are very likely to wrap up the title, but it still would have been nicer for the team if they were able to put the title in the bag without dragging it out another several weeks.
Force India was up on the time sheets, but out of real contention for points. Proof once again how competitive this sport can be.
Alsono did better than Fisichella, but the Roman is starting to get the hang of the Ferrari.
Racing will return in two weeks at Interlagos in Brazil. Brawn is hoping that the fat lady is warmed up and ready to take the stage.
Suzuka Grandstand
Race Results
| 1 | VETTEL | RBR-Renault | 1h28m20.443s |
| 2 | TRULLI | Toyota | + 4.8s |
| 3 | HAMILTON | McLaren-Mercedes | + 6.4s |
| 4 | RÄIKKÖNEN |
Ferrari | + 7.9s |
| 5 | ROSBERG | Williams-Toyota | + 8.7s |
| 6 | HEIDFELD | BMW Sauber | + 9.5s |
| 7 | BARRICHELLO | Brawn-Mercedes | + 10.6s |
| 8 | BUTTON | Brawn-Mercedes | + 11.4s |
| 9 | KUBICA | BMW Sauber | + 11.7s |
| 10 | ALONSO | Renault | + 13.0s |
| 11 | KOVALAINEN | McLaren-Mercedes | + 13.7s |
| 12 | FISICHELLA | Ferrari | + 14.5s |
| 13 | SUTIL | Force India-Mercedes | + 14.9s |
| 14 | LIUZZI | Force India-Mercedes | + 15.7s |
| 15 | NAKAJIMA | Williams-Toyota | + 17.9s |
| 16 | GROSJEAN | Renault | + 1 lap |
| 17 | WEBBER | RBR-Renault | + 2 laps |
| 18 | ALGUERSUARI | STR-Ferrari | + 10 laps, accident |
| 19 | BUEMI | STR-Ferrari | + 42 laps, clutch |
| Fastest Lap | WEBBER | RBR -Renault | 1m32.569s |
Driver’s Championship Standings
| 1 | BUTTON | Brawn-Mercedes | 85 Points |
| 2 | BARRICHELLO | Brawn-Mercedes | 71 Points |
| 3 | VETTEL | RBR-Renault | 69 Points |
| 4 | WEBBER | RBR-Renault | 51.5 Points |
| 5 | RÄIKKÖNEN | Ferrari | 45 Points |
| 6 | HAMILTON | McLaren-Mercedes | 43 Points |
| 7 | ROSBERG | Williams-Toyota | 34.5 Points |
| 8 | TRULLI | Toyota | 30.5 Points |
| 9 | ALONSO | Renault | 26 Points |
| 10 | GLOCK | Toyota | 24 Points |
| 11 | MASSA | Ferrari | 22 Points |
| 12 | KOVALAINEN | McLaren-Mercedes | 22 Points |
| 13 | HEIDFELD | BMW Sauber | 15 Points |
| 14 | KUBICA | BMW Sauber | 9 Points |
| 15 | FISICHELLA | Ferrari | 8 Points |
| 16 | SUTIL | Force India-Mercedes | 5 Points |
| 17 | BUEMI | STR-Ferrari | 3 Points |
| 18 | BOURDAIS | STR-Ferrari | 2 Points |
Constructor’s Championship Standings
| 1 | BRAWN-MERCEDES | 156 Points |
| 2 | RBR-RENAULT | 120.5 Points |
| 3 | FERRARI | 67 Points |
| 4 | McLAREN-MERCEDES | 65 Points |
| 5 | TOYOTA | 54.5 Points |
| 6 | WILLIAMS-TOYOTA | 34.5 Points |
| 7 | RENAULT | 26 Points |
| 8 | BMW SAUBER | 24 Points |
| 9 | FORCE INDIA-MERCEDES | 13 Points |
| 10 | STR-FERRARI | 5Points |