Fernando Alonso won the first Korean GP in what turned out to be a rain-soaked, incident filled afternoon.
This win puts the Spaniard on top of the scoreboard, overtaking Mark Webber who crashed out in the first half of the race. Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa joined Alonso on the podium with P2 and P3 finishes, respectively.
What started out as a great day for Red Bull ended in shambles with a double DNF; after Webber’s crash, Sebastian Vettel seemed all set to cruise to victory until engine failure struck his RB6 with about ten laps to go.
Jenson Button, who was a contender going into Korea, had his chances ended finishing 12th and getting so behind the points.
The results of the Korean GP has now shifted the 2010 title fight from a five-horse race to a fight between four drivers: Alonso, Webber, Hamilton and Vettel. With two races to go and a maximum of 50 points to win, it’s still anyone’s game, and the fight could go well into the last race, even the last laps, of the season.
KOREAN GRAND PRIX RESULTS:
1. Alonso Ferrari 2h48:20.810
2. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 14.999
3. Massa Ferrari + 30.868
4. Schumacher Mercedes + 39.688
5. Kubica Renault + 47.734
6. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes + 53.571
7. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth + 1:09.257
8. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 1:17.889
9. Heidfeld Sauber-Ferrari + 1:20.107
10. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth + 1:20.851
11. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1:24.146
12. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 1:29.939
13. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth + 1 lap
14. Senna HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps
15. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps
Fastest lap (new lap record): Alonso, 1:50.257
Photo © Sutton Motorsport Images
