Fernando Alonso kept his cool in tough conditions to win the inaugural Korean grand prix after both Red Bull drivers spectacularly retired from strong positions. The Ferrari driver moved into the lead of an increasingly tense Formula One world championship drivers' title battle in the process with victory from McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and his team mate Felipe Massa.
The start of the race in Korea was delayed by 10 minutes due to persistent rain; when the action finally got underway it was under safety car conditions, with pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel leading the field away from his team mate - and long-time championship leader - Mark Webber. Worsening conditions led to a red flag and a further delay of almost an hour with just three laps completed.
The action could finally begin in earnest after another 13 laps behind the safety car. Webber lasted just two and a half, losing control of his car after getting out of line, spinning into a wall, and collecting Mercedes' Nico Rosberg as he spun back across the track.
Vettel looked set for a comfortable victory until lap 46 when he too was forced to retire when his Renault engine spectacularly failed, handing victory on a plate to a measured Alonso who had briefly lost second place to Hamilton in the pit stops earlier in the race during another safety car period. The double world champion then held his nerve to take victory in near-darkness, with the race's two-hour time limit fast approaching.
Michael Schumacher recorded his best finish in his troubled comeback year by bringing his Mercedes home fourth, ahead of Renault's Robert Kubica. Jenson Button's torrid second half to the season continued with the world champion finishing a lowly 12th in his McLaren, a result that surely ends his championship hopes.
Alonso now leads the world championship on 231 points with just two races to go. Webber is 11 points back on 220, Hamilton a further 10 behind on 210 and Vettel is on 206. Button remains on 189.
Provisional race result: (all timing unofficial)
1. Alonso Ferrari 2h48:20.8102. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes +14.9993. Massa Ferrari +30.8684. Schumacher Mercedes +39.6885. Kubica Renault +47.7346. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes +53.5717. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth +1:09.2578. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari +1:17.8899. Heidfeld Sauber-Ferrari +1:20.10710. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth +1:20.85111. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari +1:24.14612. Button McLaren-Mercedes +1:29.93913. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth +1 lap14. Senna HRT-Cosworth +2 laps15. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth +2 laps
Fastest lap: Alonso, 1:50.257
Not classified/retirements:Sutil Force India-Mercedes 46 lapsVettel Red Bull-Renault 45Petrov Renault 39Glock Virgin-Cosworth 31Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 30Di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 25Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 25Webber Red Bull-Renault 18Rosberg Mercedes 18
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Re: Alonso wins as Red Bulls stutter
Alonso, please win the world champion so you can put pathetic people who put you down in their place!
As far as i'm concerned fair is fair and Alonso has had his share of DNFs and unrealiabilty. Christian Horner has been so up himself bragging how his team are the quickest and that they're always getting updates blah blah blah. Vettel braggs about always qualifying 1st and Webber about winning and being ahead in the championships. I'm glad that Horner's smirk has been wiped this gran prix.
Anyway, for those who think Vettel is the best driver ever, would he do better if he wasn't in a redbull? Simple answer is we don't know, but i would definetely like to see it. Webber, he hasn't really been considered to be a competitor to the top guys until last year so i think redbull is his best bet and if he was to go to another team than i don't think he would do half as well as he has so far.
Alonso has beaten 7 time world champion Michael Shumacker in two championships in a renault so he's proved himself to all of his critics and i think he makes a good and deserving world champion!
Re: Alonso wins as Red Bulls stutter
Another great drive by Alonso. 3 wins in the last 4 races and surely favourite for the title now. Bad mistake by Weber. Feel sorry for Vettel. I think we missed out on a nice battle between him and Alonso at the end. Anything can still happen but Alonso and Ferrari have become a formidable team and even with the inferior car Alonso can make the difference it seems. Massa can't see which way he's gone now most of the time.
Re: Alonso wins as Red Bulls stutter
He's gifted, certainly, and will surely be World Champion one day , but hardly "sublimely gifted" and he's made too many mistakes this season.
Today he drove superbly and came away empty-handed , but sh*t happens.